Richmond suspects that the tightness of the tape on Jacob Hopper’s knee may have contributed to the hamstring injury the star midfielder sustained during Wednesday night’s match against Melbourne at the MCG.
Making his return to the field since Round 2 after recovering from a knee injury, Hopper was among the Tigers’ standout performers before being substituted out in the third quarter with 23 disposals, which was the game’s highest at the time.
Despite attempting to play through the discomfort, Hopper eventually succumbed to the injury. Coach Adem Yze believes that the extra minutes on the field didn’t exacerbate the injury and remains hopeful that it’s a minor setback.
“It’s one of the first games that he’s played with tape on his knee, so we originally thought it was something to do with the tape and whether the tape was too tight,” Yze commented post-match. “And he hasn’t hurt his hammy before, so he tried to stay out there and run it out. I think the fact that he had a taped knee made it a little bit uncomfortable.”
The latest injury adds to Hopper’s challenges, as he has only managed to play 19 out of 30 games since joining the Tigers from GWS. Yze expressed sympathy for Hopper’s situation, hoping it’s just a minor tweak and a short-term setback.
Hopper is likely to join a growing list of injured Richmond players, including Jayden Short, Tom Lynch, Tim Taranto, Dion Prestia, Noah Balta, Jack Ross, and Josh Gibcus. Additionally, Marlion Pickett may face a suspension after an incident involving Clayton Oliver, although Yze hinted that Oliver may have exaggerated the contact.
Despite the challenges, Yze remains proud of his team’s intensity against Melbourne but lamented their inability to convert opportunities into points during the 43-point defeat. He highlighted Melbourne’s superior execution and acknowledged the Tigers’ efforts, emphasizing their need to improve execution in front of goal.
