Richmond’s Taj Hotton could play first game since being drafted in the after overcoming ACL injury

A couple more players who suffered ACL injuries could be back on the field including a Richmond draftee who is yet to be seen in yellow and black but a star Saint has suffered a setback.

Richmond fans could finally get a look at draftee Taj Hotton who only has to get through main training to play his first game of the year, in the VFL, after recovering from an ACL injury.

Hotton was taken with pick 12 in last year’s draft, having dropped down the pecking order after hurting his knee.

“Exciting to say that Taj is a test for this week,” Richmond High Performance Manager Ben Serpell said.

“If he gets through main training on Thursday, then he’ll be available to play this weekend.”

Taj Hotton could play his first game in yellow and black. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

But premiership winning veteran Jayden Short hasn’t recovered from a calf injury as hoped and won’t be available for selection for another week.

ST KILDA confirmed star forward Max King had suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury and would seek “further medical advice” to get him back on track.

King hasn’t played a game in 2025.

“It’s a very frustrating situation for Max, who has done everything possible to put his body in the best position to play this year,” football boss David Misson said.

“Our priority is Max’s long-term health and setting him up for a successful career here at the Saints, not rushing him back before he’s ready.”

But in better news, Mattaes Phillipou could return against Collingwood on Saturday, needing to pass a fitness test during Thursday’s main training session to put his hand up for selection.

HAWTHORN key forward Mitch Lewis is also on the cusp of a return from his ACL injury with the hope he could be back in the VFL next weekend, 11 months after going down.

“We are expecting him to be available to play Round 16 in his return game from his ACL,” High Performance Manager Peter Burge said.

“It’s around 11 months since he’s played football, really exciting for him.”

Captain James Sicily remains on the to be confirmed list, however, yet to fully train as he deals with a hip/abdominal issue.

WEST Coast co-captain Oscar Allen has avoided the worst-case scenarios after hurting his knee late in last Sunday’s loss to Carlton.

The Eagles suspect the key forward has suffered a plantaris injury, which won’t require any surgery.

Oscar Allen of the Eagles injured his knee against Carlton. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

ESSENDON young gun Harrison Jones is still unable to run after suffering a setback in his return from an ankle injury and there won’t be a timeline put on his comeback until he can get back on his feet.

Jones, 24, avoided surgery after suffering a minor fracture in the base of his foot in round 9 but coach Brad Scott said the recovery had stagnated.

“Harry had a really serious injury and he was optimistic in the first two weeks how quickly it turned around,” he said.

“But there’s no doubt it has stagnated in terms of his recovery. He thought he’d be running by now. He’s not really even close to that.

“The TBC is because we can’t give a return to play until he’s back with some sort of running load.”

Scott said key defender Ben McKay was in the same position as he tries to overcome a footy injury.

Originally published as Richmond’s Taj Hotton could play first game since being drafted in the after overcoming ACL injury