More information about superstar Tiger’s comeback was disclosed
Star Richmond forward Tom Lynch’s recuperation from foot surgery is reportedly “going really, really well.”
But the leader of the Tigers is still just one of many athletes this summer who are making significant progress toward recovery.
Lynch only made four appearances for Richmond in the 2023 season due to a foot injury sustained during the Tigers’ Round 4 loss to the Western Bulldogs in early April of the previous year. Lynch is a dual premiership player.
Less than two weeks after returning to the training field, the former Sun is reportedly making good progress toward his anticipated return in the 2024 Opening Round, despite occasional fits of annoyance.
“He is progressing incredibly well. He’s now had four outside sessions. Luke Meehan, Richmond’s physical performance manager, told Tigers Media that “everything is going as we had planned.”
It’s going to build gradually at first. Naturally, Tom is quite impatient and we all want to get him back into the footy drills as soon as possible, but we also need to realize that he had an extremely extended break—he hadn’t run in eight months.
“He’s going to work his tail off to get back as soon as he can, but we need to be really smart and have Tom available for as long as possible this year.”
The always vivacious Shawi Bolton is working toward an on-field comeback after successful off-season ankle surgery somewhere else in the Tigers’ forward arc.
“He suffered an ankle injury with one minute remaining in the Round 24 match against Port Adelaide the previous year. Meehan continued, “The procedure went incredibly well and was quite successful.
“Just before Christmas, he gradually began training, and ever since we returned from the holiday, he has essentially been involved in everything. He looks amazing.”
At the other end of the field, Josh Gibcus, a rising important defender, is beginning to show significant results following a difficult recovery from a complex hamstring injury that ended his 2023 season.
He is finishing roughly 90% of our drills. Before we fully commit to training, there are a few more things we need to take care of,” Meehan stated of the previous first-round selection.
“Having said that, he is essentially completing all of the training. We just keep him out of one or two drills.
“He put in a lot of work during his off-season and traveled with Anthony Schache, a physiotherapist who has also put in a lot of work with Josh. It’s wonderful to have him back, and he will keep getting stronger for practice matches.”
Lynch, Bolton, and Gibcus will be aiming to make a comeback when Richmond plays Gold Coast at Carrara on Saturday, March 9 in the Opening Round.
