Injury Update: Josh Smillie

Richmond confirms that second-year midfielder Josh Smillie will undergo quad surgery this week, keeping him out of the main training group until the new year.

The 196cm midfielder had an interrupted debut season with injury issues and has maintained close contact with Club medical staff over the off-season, completing a strong volume of running and running at intensity along with some kicking progressions.

Smillie was set to return to pre-season training with the rest of the 1–4-year players this week, but was withdrawn as part of the player screening process.

Repeat scans as part of the management of his injuries have shown little healing progress of his quad injury despite it being classified as minor in nature, with the Club now opting for surgical intervention.

Richmond Executive General Manager, Football Performance, Tim Livingstone, said the operation would be a circuit-breaker.

“Josh has worked hard in his rehab to overcome this issue and is running at high speed, but progress is not being made in how his quad responds when he tries to extend his kicking, so we have consulted surgeons about how we can make a lasting improvement on this,” he said.

“Again, the issue in isolation is only minor, but we want to get ahead of it. So, he will have the operation and commence his rehabilitation right away.

“It is a temporary setback for Josh, who was aiming to have a full pre-season and has got himself into excellent aerobic condition. But we are confident this will best set him up not only for this season but for his entire career.

“The plan is for Josh to be back full training toward the end of January and available for match play in February.”

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