Shock injury for Jack
KEY forward Jack Riewoldt is a shock casualty for Richmond ahead of tomorrow’s AFL clash against Gold Coast.
Riewoldt suffered a poke to the eye at training and he joined midfielder Dion Prestia as big outs for the Tigers.
Fox Sports reported that Riewoldt needed surgery after he suffered a cut to his right cornea.
He is expected to be out for one week but it breaks his games streak that goes back to late in the 2013 season.
The Tigers had already decided to rest Prestia after his troublesome knee flared again. They also dropped Jayden Short, while defender Bachar Houli returns from injury and they recalled Anthony Miles and Shai Bolton.
Prestia had been due to face his former side for the first time but will be held back from the Metricon Stadium fixture with lower leg soreness.
The classy on-baller has had a largely uninterrupted season after struggling with knee issues during his final two years with the Suns.
“He just got through last week and was probably touch and go but with a six-day break, he won’t get up for this week,” coach Damien Hardwick said yesterday.
“It’s a combination of (knee) and calf – once one starts, the other one starts to flare up a little bit. He was probably due to have a break.
“He’s just too important a player for us to risk on a sixday break on a surface that’s gone from wet to very hard.
“We’ll put him on ice and he’ll get back for the Hawthorn game.”
Hardwick said Suns maestro Gary Ablett would still face plenty of attention despite losing his prime tagging candidate in Prestia.
Houli became a father during his four-match suspension but still found time for regular match simulation, with Hardwick confident he will return focused and ready.
“It’s out of character for Bachar, we all know that,” Hardwick said of the striking charge that led to Houli’s suspension.
“He’s really disappointed with his actions and would be the first to put up his hand to accept that but we move on pretty quickly.
“Bachar’s got a steely resolve about the way he plays his football so he’ll get back to his best.”