AFL 2025: Richmond expects ‘really exciting' returns from injury
Richmond is set to be boosted by the returns of injured players Jayden Short, Harry Armstrong and Josh Gibcus as early as next week.
It follows the likely selection of No.1 pick Sam Lalor this week after he sustained a soft-tissue injury last month against Essendon.
Short and Armstrong will be available after their respective calf and hamstring injuries, while Gibcus will make his long-awaited return from a cruel ACL blow.
Gibcus, a highly-touted key defender, has endured an unlucky run with injuries and has not played since March last year.
Uncapped draftees Josh Smillie and Taj Hotton could then follow the returning trio in a big lift to the back-end of the Tigers' campaign.
They will each be a welcome sight for coach Adem Yze after his side was belted by the Western Bulldogs and have the in-form Adelaide this weekend.
'We'll get a few boys (back), really exciting,' Yze said.
There's welcome returns headed the Tigers' way. Picture: Michael Klein
'Harry Armstrong will play VFL footy next week, he's training really well, he'll finish off another week of training this week and be available for the following week.
'Josh Gibcus will play, touch wood, he'll be back the following week, so we'll get three or four blokes back next week.
'And then fingers crossed Josh Smillie is not too far away behind that, the back-end of the season – Taj Hotton played his first half of VFL footy on the weekend.
'The back-end of our season, hopefully see some more talent coming through and getting some opportunity at AFL level.'
Gibcus has played just two games since his debut season in 2022.
The 22-year-old sustained a severe hamstring injury, which required overseas medical assistance, before rupturing his ACL in just his second game back last season.
Richmond coach Adem Yze is pleading with the footy gods to deliver some luck to Josh Gibcus. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Yze said Gibcus had produced a 'powerful' block at training and was 'jumping out of his skin' to play.
'Yeah, no doubt, and I feel for him, he's taken a little bit longer than the others, the other boys who hurt their knees last year,' he said.
'He's jumping out of his skin and, to be fair, his last few weeks have been really powerful like he's looked back to the Gibbo we know.
'We can't wait to get him back out there, he's such a talented kid and he's a real leader down there for us.
'You can't wait for him to get some luck, like two years of setbacks. Hopefully, he gets a full run at it now.'
Tyler Lewis
Sports reporter
Tyler Lewis is a sports reporter based in Melbourne's south east.
@tmlew_
Tyler Lewis
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
26 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Wimbledon 2025 live scores: Doubles action for Aussies early on day three, Jordan Thompson flying the flag in singles
A number of Aussies are in doubles action early on day three at Wimbledon with the last male Australian in the draw set to take the court. But play on the outside courts was delayed by persistent drizzle, postponing the action. Jordan Thompson is set to face Benjamin Bonzi on court 15 overnight (AEST), on a schedule headlined by superstar Carlos Alcaraz. lcaraz will aim to avoid one of Wimbledon's greatest upsets against British amateur Oliver Tarvet after a record-breaking number of seeds crashed out at the All England Club. Their contest will follow the match between women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic. Alcaraz's meeting with the British qualifier is a classic David against Goliath encounter. While the Spaniard, a five-time Grand Slam champion, is bidding for a third successive Wimbledon crown, world number 733 Tarvet is playing just his second main draw match at the All England Club. 'I'm quietly confident that I can win against anyone,' he said. 'Alcaraz isn't an exception to that. Obviously, he's done an incredible amount in the tennis world. He's a difficult guy not to respect.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
British Lions hit straps to sprint past plucky Reds
Hunter Paisami barged back into Wallabies calculations before the British & Irish Lions swallowed up the fast-starting Queensland Reds in Brisbane. The tourists were made to work for Wednesday's 52-12 victory in front of 46,435 fans at Suncorp Stadium after the hosts scored first and then lead 12-7 midway through the first half. Spots in the Wallabies midfield are at a premium with Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii set to combine in the centres against Fiji on Sunday. But bustling centre Paisami, after being pulled from Australia's camp to instead front up against the Lions, gave Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt plenty to ponder ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. His first touch was a rampaging run that set up Jeffery Toomaga-Allen's first try and he kept the Lions guessing with short kicking and stoic defence. When Kalani Thomas's grubber was brilliantly swept up on the half-volley by Josh Flook to score, the Reds looked a chance of joining their 1899 and 1971 side in knocking off the visitors. The Lions, who beat the Force 54-7 with 14 different starters on Saturday, were clunky early but found their groove approaching halftime. Andrew Porter burrowed over to put them ahead before No.10 Finn Russell, who booted four-of-four conversions before exiting after 50 minutes, straightened the attack and Duhan van der Merwe soared to score inside the left corner post. A wicked bounce denied Lachie Anderson an incredible try when the Lions didn't collect the restart and the ball dribbled dead. Lock Maro Itoje made an impact in his first outing as Lions captain and cashed in with a try after Bundee Aki's storming run and scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park darted from the ruck. The Reds got desperate as the match opened up, Huw Jones plucking Tim Ryan's ambitious chip and racing 60 metres to score. Substitute Gary Ringrose iced the contest with an 85th-minute try as the tourists again passed 50. Hooker Matt Faessler, another Wallabies squad member, was solid in a 50-minute stint in his return from a hamstring injury while Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) put his case forward after being a regular in Schmidt's teams last year. Russell, the only Lion to start in both games, looked dangerous in his first partnership with Gibson-Park while flanker Jac Morgan earned man-of-the-match honours for his damage around the ruck. Coach Andy Farrell will have a chance to shuffle his deck again when the Lions play the NSW Waratahs on Saturday. They'll also play the Brumbies, who beat the tourists in 2013, and a combined Australia-New Zealand outfit coached by Reds coach Les Kiss, before Brisbane's first Test.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Lions Tour, v Reds, news and scores: Toomaga-Allen gives Reds early lead over the Lions
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen has given the Reds an early lead against the British and Irish Lions, in a tour game which doubles as a chance to impress for a gold Wallabies jersey. Jock Campbell is living a rugby dream as he captains Queensland against the British and Irish Lions, and it's a dream start after the Reds scored fired at Suncorp Stadium. Reds custodian Campbell will become the state's 125th rugby union captain, 12 years after watching the 2013 Lions series from the stands as fullback of The Southport School's Second XV. The Lions Tour only comes around once every 12 years, with the Reds falling just short in a 22-12 loss back in 2013. Quade Cooper captained the Reds on that night, and this week the decorated former Wallaby wrote why that experience remains such a major moment in his career. For some, like Hunter Paisami and Matt Faessler, it shapes as an opportunity to show Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt why they deserve a gold jersey later in the tour.
