Hugo Ralphsmith

Richmond's High Performance Manager Ben Serpell has provided a positive update on exciting Tiger youngster Sam Cumming, after he returned to the field via the VFL this past weekend.

Making his return from a shoulder injury, Cumming amassed 11 disposals and six tackles on limited game time in Richmond's VFL win over St Kilda on Sunday.

“Sam got through the game pretty well, no shoulder soreness in the end, and also he was very confident in that shoulder. Obviously, we saw him play managed minutes, and we're happy for him to play a full game in the next couple of weeks," Serpell said. 

Serpell also discussed the status of several Tigers heading into Gather Round below.

This Injury Report is brought to you by nib. With nib, life could be potentially amazing.

01:32

Hugo Ralphsmith: Knee, Test
Noah Balta: Hamstring tightness, Test

“We pulled them both out of the game (last week) as a very precautionary approach,” Serpell said. 

“Noah pulled up with a bit of hamstring tightness out of training, and then Hugo Ralphsmith, we thought we'd take a week to look after his knee, which he's been carrying for a little while.

“Both are expected to get through training tomorrow and be available for selection this weekend."

Josh Gibcus: Soreness, Test

“Similar to Hugo and Balta, we thought we'd give Josh Gibcus a rest last week. We have a low threshold for where he's at, and he pulled up a bit sore from the (VFL) game prior. Given he's not played many games the last two years, we thought we'd take the opportunity to give him a rest and see him back out there in the next week or two,” Serpell said.

Josh Smillie: Quad, 4-6 weeks

“(Smillie) is doing really well,” Serpell said. 

“He's back to running around about 90 per cent, and he's starting to do a bit of kicking as well. We're really confident where he's at...but given where he's come from, the surgery, and a few other things, we anticipate him closer to six weeks.”

Brought to you by

nib
Player Injury Estimated Return
3. Dion Prestia

3. Dion Prestia

Hamstring Test

Prestia suffered hamstring awareness in Round 16 against Collingwood.

Read Article
47. Oliver Hayes-Brown

47. Oliver Hayes-Brown

Knee Test

Hayes-Brown is a test to return to availability after recovering from knee soreness.

Read Article
38. Tom Sims

38. Tom Sims

MCL Test

Sims sustained an MCL injury in the Round 9 VFL game.

Read Article
4. Sam Lalor

4. Sam Lalor

Achilles Round 20

Lalor suffered a partial tear to his Achilles during a training session in the lead-up to Round 8.

Read Article
16. Josh Smillie

16. Josh Smillie

Quad Round 20-22

Smillie sustained a small re-tear of the injury he acquired in February.

Read Article
50. Campbell Gray

50. Campbell Gray

Hamstring Round 20-23

Gray suffered a high-grade hamstring strain in Round 10.

Read Article
5. Jack Ross

5. Jack Ross

Concussion TBC

Ross suffered a concussion in Richmond's Round 17 AFL game.

Read Article
49. Kaleb Smith

49. Kaleb Smith

Concussion TBC

Smith sustained a concussion in Round 15 of the VFL.

Read Article
11. Luke Trainor

11. Luke Trainor

Concussion TBC

Trainor sustained a concussion at training in the lead-up to Round 17.

Read Article
2. Jacob Hopper

2. Jacob Hopper

Ankle TBC

Hopper suffered a stress fracture in his ankle following the Round 14 game against Brisbane.

Read Article
8. Jonty Faull

8. Jonty Faull

Back Season

Faull will miss the remainder of the 2026 AFL season due to stress fractures in his back.

Read Article
18. Josh Gibcus

18. Josh Gibcus

Knee Season

Gibcus sustained an ACL sprain in the VFL Round 5 game.

Read Article
4. Sam Lalor

4. Sam Lalor

Lalor suffered a partial tear to his Achilles during a training session in the lead-up to Round 8.

Read Article
Injury: Achilles
Est. Return: Round 20
8. Jonty Faull

8. Jonty Faull

Faull will miss the remainder of the 2026 AFL season due to stress fractures in his back.

Read Article
Injury: Back
Est. Return: Season

Last Updated: