Gold Coast’s star recruit and reigning Richmond club champion Daniel Rioli may require knee surgery after suffering a setback in his first week training with the Suns.
Rioli sustained a left knee injury during Gold Coast’s training session on Wednesday, after they officially started their pre-season two days earlier.
Daniel Rioli has injured his knee at pre-season training.Credit: Getty Images
Scans confirmed the 27-year-old defender, who played in three premierships at the Tigers, injured his medial collateral ligament, with a decision to be made in the next week on whether he requires an operation.
The Suns are hopeful he will resume running after the Christmas break and be available to play in at least one pre-season match before the opening round, when they will host Essendon on March 8.
Rioli, who has reunited with coach Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast, signed a five-year deal after the Suns handed over picks six and 23 for him.
Richmond also gave Gold Coast four late selections – 51, 61, 70 and 76 – to help them match St Kilda’s eventual top-10 bid on Suns academy midfielder Leo Lombard at the draft last week.
Rioli was one of three high-profile Tigers to request a trade after the season, including Shai Bolton (Fremantle) and Liam Baker (West Coast).
Jack Graham also signed with the Eagles as an unrestricted free agent, while premiership greats Dustin Martin and Dylan Grimes retired.
There was a silver lining to the exits of Rioli, Bolton and Baker.
Richmond started last week’s AFL draft with an extraordinary seven first-round picks, as well as the opening selection of the second round.
GWV Rebels midfielder-forward Sam Lalor became the Tigers’ first No.1 pick since Brett Deledio two decades ago, and was one of six players they selected in the first round before a savvy swap with North Melbourne that netted them a potential top-four choice next year.
This year’s draft looms as a vital one for Richmond’s rebuild under Adem Yze, and they selected various positional types, including key forwards Jonty Faull, Harry Armstrong and Thomas Sims.
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