Richmond was dealt a cruel triple blow in the their first game back at the MCG for 2024 with two injury-prone stars forced off the ground in the first half, and a third soon following.
Dion Prestia’s rotten luck continued after the midfielder suffered yet another hamstring injury late in the first term.
Prestia has not played a full season since 2019 and has averaged just 14 games a season over the last four years.
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The Tigers activated their substitute at quarter time with Rhyan Mansell entering the game and will need to rely on the likes of Thomson Dow and Jack Ross in Prestia’s absence to pick up the slack.
Young gun Josh Gibcus also appeared to suffer a serious knee injury deep in the second quarter, after landing awkwardly following a spoil.
The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph reported at halftime the Tigers were 90% sure Gibcus had torn his ACL.
“Definite knee acl mechanism for tigers defender Gibcus – just had long hamstring post op rehab including time in Aspetar,” long-time sports doctor Peter Larkins tweeted.
Gibcus needed to be stretchered off the ground in what was a bitter blow to an otherwise positive first half by the Tigers.
The 20-year-old didn’t play a game in 2023 due to a complex hamstring tendon issue which saw him travel to Qatar to get specialist treatment.
Tylar Young then joined them out of the game after a concussion suffered in the second quarter, which saw him absent for a long period before finally being ruled out late in the third term.
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