AFL injury news: All the latest updates from round 10

Richmond’s injury crisis has deepened, with back-up ruckman Sam Naismith believed to have suffered a heartbreaking fourth ACL injury in the VFL.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 18: Jordan De Goey of the Magpies celebrates kicking a goal during the round 10 AFL match between Collingwood Magpies and Kuwarna (the Adelaide Crows) at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on May 18, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Richmond fears back-up ruckman Sam Naismith will require the fourth knee reconstruction of his injury-plagued career as coach Adem Yze declared the Tigers were not in rebuilding mode.

In one of the darkest periods of Richmond’s recent memory they added a 119-point loss to last week’s 90-point defeat, the first time this century they have lost consecutive games by over 15 goals.

Richmond said on Sunday Mykelti Lefau had avoided a broken jaw after scans as a result of a heavy collision that saw him subbed off against Brisbane.

But in a weekend where forward Rhyan Mansell was ruled out of Dreamtime at the ‘G after a Gabba concussion, the club’s injury toll only grew worse.

Naismith’s knee buckled during Sunday’s VFL game from a non-contact injury as he attempted to change direction and the early fears are a fourth knee reconstruction is required.

Sam Naismith of the Tigers and Sean Darcy of the Dockers contest the ruck during the round eight match. Naismith appears to have done his fourth ACL injury. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

The 31-year-old was picked by Richmond after a successful season in the VFL with Port Melbourne and he had played three senior games before being dropped this weekend.

Another knee reconstruction would likely put paid to an AFL career that has seen him play 33 games across 11 seasons at Sydney and Richmond.

On Sunday the club’s VFL side, which has 10 separate injuries on its list, lost by 110 points as the club conceded twin defeats by a combined 229 points.

Yze admitted the Tigers had hit rock bottom against Brisbane as he said the club’s leaders had told him they wanted more clarity over the club’s ball movement in a game where everything went wrong.

But while the Tigers could trade some senior players including Daniel Rioli and Liam Baker for draft picks, Yze said the Tigers were not rebuilding.

“We are never happy with giving up 150 points in a game, irrelevant of the personnel we have got out. Some of it is decisions, some of it is execution and some of it is trying too hard. We are going through a bit, we are not happy with where we sit. The last two weeks are hopefully the lowest we are going to get but as a foot club we will try to get better every day and if we get some troops back we can bounce back quickly,” he said.

“I know a lot of teams do go through this when they have had success or just starting out or rebuilding but we don’t feel like we are at that point, when we have got everyone available we feel we can be competitive. We will continue working on our game but that was unacceptable.”

DE GOEY CONCUSSION FEARS ALLAYED

Collingwood expects Jordan De Goey to be fit to take on Fremantle on Friday night after he pulled up without any concussion symptoms from the Pies’ latest nailbiter.

Craig McRae’s Pies have won six of their last seven games and drew against Essendon on Anzac Day after a 0-3 start to their premiership defence.

They are on the march as they take on the Dockers at Optus Stadium on Friday.

De Goey kicked the matchwinner against Adelaide after a head knock but on game day was cleared of concussion.

His coach McRae had admitted delayed concussion might be an issue after Reef McInnes was also ruled out with concussion after a knee to the head.

“It was a heavy fall, wasn’t it? Yeah. Potentially. Yeah,” McRae said when asked about whether the club would have to monitor De Goey.

“Anytime there’s something like that, you’ve got to look out for that. But he was important, wasn’t he, at the end, too? Sliding doors moments, really.”

De Goey was the hero late. Pic: Michael Klein

De Goey reported on Sunday morning he was in good shape and preparing to take on the Dockers off a six-day break.

The Pies brought back De Goey after only two weeks off battling groin soreness but he rose to the occasion to hand the Pies yet another victory over under six points.

Collingwood expects Beau McCreery to return from his own concussion last week, while Brody Mihocek (hamstring) is some chance to take on Fremantle.

Tom Mitchell will be assessed after recovering from an appendix issue as he also battles plantar fascia issues.

Fremantle expects Sean Darcy (calf) to return against the Pies but Michael Frederick (concussion) will be absent after a heavy collision with St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster.

Will Hoskin-Elliott will also miss with a hamstring strain as McRae admitted the injury list was taking its toll.

“It’s a challenging period for us, it really is,” he said.

“We come in with a plan and then plan’s already going to be stressed and then the plan gets even more stressed and what are we going to do now?

“We found a way to kick 12 goals today, and that shouldn’t be undersold, and nine different goalkickers again. But there’s a stress.”

WEITERING INJURY UNCERTAINTY LEAVES BLUES SWEATING

Carlton will closely monitor Jacob Weitering’s corked thigh in the coming days before gaining a clearer picture on whether he can take on Gold Coast next Saturday night as a handful of injured Blues edge closer to an AFL return.

It comes as midfielder Sam Walsh conceded the Blues needed to work on their contest game after being overwhelmed after quarter time by premiership favourites Sydney at the SCG on Friday night.

Weitering suffered the injury in the opening term when he launched into teammate Nic Newman at a marking contest. He returned to the game with his thigh strapped, but was clearly restricted and subbed out.

The Blues are confident it is nothing more serious than a cork, but won’t take any chances with the vice-captain after a frustrating recent run with injuries to key players.

Adam Saad (hamstring), Jesse Motlop (hamstring) and Lachie Fogarty (wrist) will be tested this week as possible inclusions against the Suns.

Weitering receiving medical attention during the game. Picture: Getty Images

Walsh insisted the Blues would bounce back this week after a fourth loss in the past six weeks.

“As a group we are obviously very disappointed with the result,” Walsh said. “Sydney are a top side at the moment. They proved that (on Friday night), and we weren’t quite up for the fight.

“I think a lot of the (issues) were starting around the contest.”

“So us, as a midfield group, have some good learnings (out of the game) and we will try and move on, and find some growth out of the game.

“It was a great start for us, when you are in away territory to get five or six goals in that first quarter … (and) attack the way we want to.

“From there, we probably lost our ability to win the ball security around the contest, then they spread really well on us. Their tackling pressure around the contest just beat us all night.”

Jacob Weitering has been subbed out following this passage early in the game.#AFLSwansCatspic.twitter.com/guN6RNNgJs

— AFL (@AFL) May 17, 2024

He conceded he had taken some lessons out of the job James Jordon did on him in the match, keeping him to 20 disposals – his lowest tally this year.

“It was challenging having someone always there at you,” he said of Jordon’s role.

“I learnt some good things out of the game that I think will make me a better player.”

Walsh said he had spoken to Weitering at the airport on Saturday morning and hoped his thigh issue wasn’t going to be an issue.

SEN’s David King wondered whether the Blues had been too conservative with the decision to sub Weitering out of the game.

“Does he have to be 100 per cent to play?” King said. “Could he be out there marshalling the troops?”

“I just wonder how injured he was … in the back of my mind. I am not questioning the player, I am really not, but gee, there are some warriors like Jeremy McGovern.

“He (McGovern) pushes through all sorts of pain and all sorts of trauma. I think that is part of the growth of Jacob.”

Originally published as AFL injury news: All the latest updates from round 10