All the talk on the injury front this season has been about Richmond’s incredulous run of ailments to superstars.
From Round 2, the Tigers have had been unable to field their best 22 after Alex Rance suffered an ACL injury in the season’s first match. Incredibly, however, the club has continued to find ways to win matches.
Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin, Jayden Short, Bachar Houli and Toby Nankervis have also all spent – or are spending – unwanted time on the sidelines this season, but are the Tigers really the biggest victims of 2019’s injury curse?
Is there another club out there having a worse run in the medical room?
We got Roar AFL expert Ryan Buckland on Game of Codes – our podcast – to look at the full injury list and see just which club is hurting the most.
Listen to the discussion:
Collingwood would put their hands up, with a plethora of superstars currently on the sidelines. Melbourne fans would also be feeling hard done by given their long injury list.
But is there an outside contender? Give the excerpt a listen above to see what our experts think.
Visit our Game of Codes hub to catch the full episode and be sure to subscribe and review on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever else you’re listening.
Powa
Roar Rookie
completely missed port there, they are missing most of their forward line
Sunshine Tiger
Roar Rookie
Pies have injuries, name the superstars, before you get on your high horse
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I actually said to my son "Buddy has a pot belly".
Cat
Roar Guru
Taking nothing away from Roughy – has played better this year than he has throughout his career prior but the job on Buddy could have been done by anyone. Buddy looks so unfit out there its not even funny.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Ah Presty. Gave up his spot in a premiership side for the sake of the team success. A Pies immortal.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
When I really started being able to see what Roughhead was doing it reminded me of Prestiagiacomo and Ted Potter (if you are old enough to have seen him). I think having the option of a negating defender adds additional complexity to a backline and he has been a great addition. That it took me so long is, I suppose, why I am writing here typing and not talent spotting and list building. B-)
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I wil watch for him this week.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
He is never going to be a dashing Moore style defender though. He is huge and all he needs to do is stop a big forward. I miss Dunn's clearing kicks and aggression but hey, he is done sadly so we move on.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Looking at the images of Cox moving at training he has always looked as tough it was close to a return, however the reports are that he is having trouble moving laterally. Seems to be a fairly normal problem with syndesmosis injuries they seem hard to predict. I have not been a huge fan of Roughhead during the season so far, but have changed my mind and think he may be one of the big factors in what I see as a major improvement in being able to cover for injuries and give flexibility in matchup. He seems to be one of those defenders that you think [… insert name here … ] had a bad day, until you look at the isolation shots and see it was not a bad day as much as beaten on the day.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Roughead was a steal at pick 75. With Dunn gone again, Moore suspect and Scharenberg still to return, he has become a quiet achiever down back. Killed Buddy last week. Goldsack is on standby in reserves but has been quiet and playing forward.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I think Moore and de Goo are crucial for you.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The main problem coming from the Pies is from their brains trust. We are not getting the truth in the Pies injury reports. Time and time again this year we hear players are out for one week with something minor and three-four weeks later they are still not back. Think Cox, Adams, Aish, Moore. Fans would prefer to just hear the truth. Adams for example was every chance to play last week but then we were told just didn’t quite make it. Now, he is 3-4 weeks away. Clearly he tweaked the groin again. Just be honest and tell us. The same with Cox. A minor ankle became missing a month of footy. Long term worries with injury now sit with Langdon, Jamie Elliott, Wells and Dunn. Elliott? Who knows. If we believe the Pies he will be back after the bye. Langdon may be 5-6 weeks but may not be back all season IMO. Moore, Cox and De Goey should return this week which are three handy inclusions. Tay Adams after the bye and the forgotten man Matthew Scharenberg is due to return soon. Brayden Sier struggled with fitness and has been either on the sidelines or in the two’s. We need him back and firing as inside mid support to Adams and Pendlebury.