Richmond No.1 pick Sam Lalor sidelined with partial Achilles tear as injury crisis deepens

Key facts

• Sam Lalor, the No.1 pick in the 2024 AFL Draft, suffered a partial Achilles injury at training on Thursday.
• Lalor will be assessed over the coming days to determine a return-to-play timeline.
• Josh Smillie, Richmond's top pick in the 2024 draft, re-tore his quad injury while kicking a light ball at training last week.
• Josh Gibcus sustained an ACL sprain (not a rupture) while playing in the VFL; it is not the same knee that underwent reconstruction.
• Richmond now has 16 players unavailable for selection.
• Veteran midfielder Tim Taranto will miss at least another week due to concussion.
• Hugo Ralphsmith (knee), Maurice Rioli (hamstring), Toby Nankervis (hamstring), Harry Armstrong (foot), Sam Banks (collarbone), Rhyan Mansell (foot), and Taj Hotton (hip) are among those sidelined.
• Jayden Short, Tyler Sonsie, and Oliver Hayes-Brown will return for Saturday's Round 8 clash against West Coast in Perth.

A prized recruit felled in training

Richmond's injury crisis deepened on Thursday when No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor suffered a partial Achilles injury during a routine training session. The 19-year-old, selected first overall in the 2024 AFL Draft, is now facing an uncertain recovery timeline as the club's medical staff assess the severity of the damage. Richmond Executive General Manager of Football Performance, Tim Livingstone, confirmed the injury and expressed the club's disappointment. 'We are disappointed for Sam, whose injury occurred during training on Thursday,' Livingstone said. 'Sam is the consummate professional who will attack his rehab with the necessary care and commitment.' The club will provide further updates on Lalor's return-to-play timeline in the coming days, but the immediate impact is clear: Richmond's most prized young talent is sidelined indefinitely.

A cascade of setbacks for the Tigers

Lalor's injury is the latest in a series of blows that have left Richmond with 16 players unavailable. The club's injury list reads like a casualty report: veteran midfielder Tim Taranto will miss at least another week due to concussion; Hugo Ralphsmith is out with a knee issue; Maurice Rioli and Toby Nankervis are sidelined with hamstring strains; Harry Armstrong (foot) will be absent for at least a month; Sam Banks (collarbone) faces a minimum five-week recovery; and Rhyan Mansell (foot) and Taj Hotton (hip) are out indefinitely. Even more concerning for the club's future is the fate of two other highly touted youngsters. Josh Smillie, Richmond's top pick in the same draft class as Lalor, suffered a re-tear of his quad injury last week while kicking a light ball at training. The uncapped Smillie has yet to play an AFL game since being selected in the club's first-round haul at the end of 2024.

Smillie and Gibcus: compounding frustrations

Richmond high performance manager Ben Serpell provided a detailed update on Smillie's condition, clarifying that the original surgical site remains intact. 'To be clear, the original surgical site's still intact, so we are going to shift him back to the TBC time frame,' Serpell said. 'Both Josh's (Smillie and Gibcus) are clearly very frustrated with their injuries at this point in time, as is everyone at the Club.' Serpell emphasised the need for support. 'I think at this point in time it's really important that we get our arms around these guys and support them through their respective recoveries and make sure that we get behind them as they progress forward.' The news is equally grim for Josh Gibcus, who sustained an ACL strain while playing in the VFL over the weekend. Gibcus was initially cleared to return to the field after being checked for an ACL strain during the first quarter, but a subsequent MRI revealed the injury.

An uncommon injury requiring specialist consultation

Serpell explained that Gibcus's ACL sprain is not a rupture, but it is an uncommon injury that demands a careful approach. 'Unfortunately, Josh presented for the injury clinic in the next couple of days, so we sent him off for an MRI, and we saw that, unfortunately, Josh Gibcus has sustained an ACL sprain, which is not to be confused with a rupture,' Serpell said. 'He will sit out the next little while as we decide what our course of action is going to be. It is an uncommon injury, so we need to be considered with our approach for his return to play.' The club plans to consult multiple surgeons before deciding on a treatment path. Serpell noted that Gab Seymour from the women's program sustained a similar injury last year and returned to training without surgery, offering a potential non-surgical precedent. Crucially, Serpell confirmed that Gibcus's current injury is to a different knee than the one that required reconstruction surgery not long ago.

A depleted lineup heads to Perth

Despite the mounting injuries, Richmond will welcome back three players for Saturday's Round 8 clash against West Coast in Perth: Jayden Short, Tyler Sonsie, and Oliver Hayes-Brown. Their return provides some relief, but the club's depth is being tested like never before. The Tigers have not been able to catch a break on the injury front in 2026, and the absence of so many key contributors — including the club's top draft picks — raises serious questions about their competitiveness in the short term and the development of their young core.

The road ahead for Richmond's young stars

For Lalor, Smillie, and Gibcus, the path to recovery is uncertain but critical. Lalor's partial Achilles injury typically requires weeks to months of rehabilitation, depending on the severity. Smillie's quad re-tear, while not compromising the surgical site, has no clear timeline. Gibcus's ACL sprain may be managed conservatively, but the club is taking no chances. Richmond's medical staff face the challenge of balancing caution with the need to get these players back on the field. The club's future hinges on the development of its young talent, and each setback delays that progress. As Livingstone put it, the club will fully support Lalor through his recovery, but the broader picture is one of a team stretched thin by an extraordinary run of injuries.

The bottom line

• Richmond's No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor is out with a partial Achilles injury, with a timeline to be determined.
• Fellow top pick Josh Smillie re-tore his quad while kicking a light ball, with no return date set.
• Josh Gibcus has an ACL sprain in a different knee from his reconstructed one; the club will consult multiple surgeons.
• Richmond has 16 players unavailable, including veterans Taranto, Nankervis, and Rioli.
• The Tigers face West Coast in Perth on Saturday with three returning players but a severely depleted squad.
• The club's injury crisis threatens the development of its young core and short-term competitiveness.