Written by Rhea Alison, Sports reporter, covering international sports since 2020

Richmond’s highly rated young midfielder Josh Smillie remains sidelined after another injury setback, with coach Adem Yze confirming on Wednesday that the 2024 top draft pick is still six to eight weeks away from making his long-awaited AFL debut. The update came as the Tigers resumed training, highlighting ongoing concerns about Smillie’s fitness and the club’s cautious approach.

Richmond stay patient with prized draft pick

At Punt Road, the mood around Smillie is measured rather than rushed. The 195cm midfielder, drafted at pick 7, has spent much of his early career in rehab. Yze stressed the club will not take risks.

“We understand he’s going through a fair bit and I said this last week, his injury was different to the operation,” Yze said.

“He just had a tweak of his quad… we’re not going to take any risk with him.”

Growth and recovery shaping timeline

Richmond staff are also managing physical changes after Smillie grew 3cm in his first year. That has added complexity to his recovery and conditioning.

“I think most young lads with high talent would get a bit jealous and frustrated and that’s understandable,” Yze said.

What it means for Richmond

The Tigers are focused on long-term gains over short-term returns. Fans eager to track AFL injury news can check our latest AFL updates for match reports and player news, while official information from the league can be found at the AFL’s official website.

For readers interested in practical tips on following player progress and recovery schedules, check out smart play updates here.