Riley Thilthorpe recovery time revealed as Crows quash fears over Josh Rachele knock

Adelaide has revealed how long it will be without key pillar Riley Thilthorpe up forward following knee surgery, while hearts were also in mouths after Josh Rachele had a knock at training.

Adelaide key forward Riley Thilthorpe will spend at least three months on the sidelines after the Crows decided to take a conservative approach with his torn meniscus.

But there is much better news for another Crows young gun with Josh Rachele allaying fears after he left the training track early on Wednesday after copping a Matt Crouch knee to the quad.

Thilthorpe had surgery on Wednesday after scans revealed he had suffered a torn meniscus in the final minutes of the Crows’ pre-season win over West Coast on the weekend.

While there was optimism Thilthorpe’s knee injury might not be a bad one, it was quickly discovered that he had suffered a torn lateral meniscus.

He had surgery to repair this and the Crows announced he would be out for 12 to 14 weeks.

Crows high performance manager Darren Burgess said he was confident Thilthorpe could play a meaningful role in the second half of the season for the club.

“It’s obviously very disappointing for Riley and the team, he’s had a fantastic pre-season and had put in a lot of hard work to put himself in a strong position for the year ahead,” Burgess said.

Riley Thilthorpe marks in front of Jeremy McGovern at Hisense Stadium in the Crows and Eagles’ pre-season game. Picture:Mark Brake/Getty Images.

“But now his focus shifts to his rehabilitation and Riley is very diligent when it comes to his training and preparation which will hold him in good stead.

“Given his age and that he is such a valuable, long-term player for us, we are taking a conservative view with his return to play and see him being a significant contributor for the second half of our season.

“After a period of rest at home, he will continue his upper body training at the club and will spend about six weeks in a knee brace before progressing to on-legs training and then running.”

Thilthorpe had been one of the standout Crows this pre-season, with his ability to play forward and then support Reilly O’Brien in the ruck looming as key for Matthew Nicks’ side in 2024.

New recruit Chris Burgess is now set to make his debut for the Crows in Round 1 against his former side Gold Coast.

And the 28-year-old, who has only played three AFL games in the past two years but did kick 124 goals at VFL level, is all of a sudden an important player for the Crows with his ability to ruck as well as play forward.

Rachele said that could come into consideration for Crows coaches, even though they could go smaller in the forward line.

“We have so many options,” he said.

“I think that will be up to Nicksy and the coaches (if rucking ability is big in who replaces Thilthorpe) but definitely a bit of insurance because if ROB (O’Brien) goes down we don’t have any insurance.”

Thilthorpe will miss the start of the Crows’ season. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Rachele himself didn’t finish the Crows training session on Wednesday after copping a corked thigh from a Crouch knee.

It was in a similar spot to one he copped a few weeks ago, but Rachele said he was in no doubt for Round 1 whatsoever.

“It was just one of those things, I just copped a bit of a corkie and was a bit frustrated with one of our sessions but I will definitely be right for Round 1,” he said.

“Just Crouchie knee to the quad, copped one in a similar spot a few weeks ago and recovered quite quickly from that one.

“So I think I will definitely be fine and will just have an adjusted session on Friday

these days it is about icing it.

“I knew initially it was a corkie. I was a bit peeved off it happened right at the end of training.”

Key defender Mark Keane trained without a non-contact hat on as he ramps up his return from a concussion suffered against Port Adelaide in match simulation to take his spot in the Crows defence to take on the Suns.

Originally published as Riley Thilthorpe recovery time revealed as Crows quash fears over Josh Rachele knock