Josh Smillie | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Josh Smillie

Huh, you defending the club , something different.

It’s comically bad communication . When it comes to injury coms we constantly get it wrong.

Nothing to do with Josh, it’s a rotten luck and would be a harrowing experience mentally.
Come on, you got it wrong and misunderstood the numbers. Just admit it and have a laugh.
 
Not sure what Dylan Grimes & Emma Murray are up to these days but if possible it would be worth them having a chat with Josh.
Kid is going to need a lot of mental support right now.
 
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At this point us supporters need to ease the pressure on this kid and lower our ongoing expectations. To the point that any VFL contributions in 2026 should be considered a bonus.
 
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This. 6-10 weeks until playing. Is that a surprise given his preseason? Or lack thereof...

It sounds ambitious to me, I was merely alluding that they could be talking the same things, the original statement was inferring the Yze and the conditioning team were way out on dates which I don't think they were, they just reference 2 different key date milestones.
 
Kid may as well take a holiday tbh, this would probably get to him mentally

maybe go to germany and have that fancy calf blood crap done
 
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Injuries happen.
I hope we can get through this and get him on the park.
Quick.

If we can't his manager might get in his ear and question our S & C team and try and get him moved out to another club.
Look at Joey Daniher.
Changed clubs and never got injured at Lions.
This is what worries me most.
Young kids are impatient.
They just want to play.

Pressure's on S & C team.
Don't stuff this kid up.
 
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Injuries happen.
I hope we can get through this and get him on the park.
Quick.

If we can't his manager might get in his ear and question our S & C team and try and get him moved out to another club.
Look at Joey Daniher.
Changed clubs and never got injured at Lions.
This is what worries me most.
Young kids are impatient.
They just want to play.

Pressure's on S & C team.
Don't stuff this kid up.

Just as an aside, I think it's a fair deduction that Daniher didn't want to play for the Dons.

His first attempt to trade out failed and he remained in poor health, probably not motivated and not wanting to further injure himself.


Change is as good as a holiday, they say.
 
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I had shoulder surgery recently and was told i should be back to normal in 6 to 12 months. There U go, a 6 month window. Physio said every person is different. Same injury, same age same build, but different timeframe for rehab/repair etc. medical professionals are guessing and passing info on to Surpell.
 
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The kid is an absolutely massive unit playing a very demanding position. His body will take more time to adjust than others. It's clear that most of the draftees have struggled. Fingers crossed for Josh. At least it's encouraging to see a guy like McAuliffe fit, given he also had quad issues around the same time.
 
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Trainor got through all last year.
Alger played basically all year.
Liam Fawcett who missed almost all of 2024, played pretty much the whole of 2025.
Kaleb Smith got through and his fitness was elevated.
Gibcus got back after a long time out and was able to play a game at AFL

That's a sample of the good work they did with young bodies.

So Lalor - never had a preseason.
Faull - had injuries before getting to the club. But was able to play every game (?) after coming up to AFL level.
Smillie - struck out
Hotton - came back in 25 after an ACL in u18 and played a string of games. Was that just dumb luck, or did our medical team do that?
Armstrong - bad injury, but came back and played again. Was deliberately held back extra weeks to be safe, but finished the year off.

I'm not generalising to say everything is good, but if all folks want to do is add up the negatives and ignore the positives, you're not gonna get a true picture.

Is it our medical team don't know what they're doing? Or is it a mix of bad luck and some really complex issues?
Agree with you on your summary apart from Gibcus , who kept breaking down under our care , he was fixed up after he was sent to Saudi Arabia ,

Multiple players on your list have had recurring injuries under our care , they get better by luck rather than good planning .

A proffesional sporting club should have a proffesional conditioning and recovery team , im not certain that we have the best of the best
 
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Not sure what Dylan Grimes & Emma Murray are up to these days but if possible it would be worth them having a chat with Josh.
Kid is going to need a lot of mental support right now.

I dont think mindfullness works on a torn quad?

I think you just feel the torn quad more
 
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