Sports

Reece Conca suffers sickening ankle injury during milestone game

Related Story: Tigers show class in thrilling AFL win over Swans

It was a milestone game that Reece Conca would sooner forget, but the actions of his teammates will long be remembered.

The Tigers midfielder, who was playing his 100th AFL game, suffered a sickening ankle injury while being tackled by Sydney Swans' Lance Franklin and Tom McCartin halfway through the first quarter of Thursday night's clash at Docklands.

Conca's teammates surrounded the midfielder while he was being treated on the field before he was stretchered off the ground.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said he was impressed by the way his players responded.

"I thought it was a pretty touching moment and it probably sums up our footy club just to see all the players get to him and all get a touch on him which is important," Hardwick said.

"He's a very popular member of our football club and we really do wish him a speedy recovery because he's an important player for us, there's no doubt."

External Link: Tigers player injured Tweet

The Tigers withstood a second-half fightback to win by 26 points, 14.9 (93) to 11.1 (67).

Hardwick said it was a "full-on game" but the victory was soured by Conca's injury.

"That first half was brutal … it was contest after contest," Hardwick said.

Franklin could also face scrutiny from the match review officer after a fend on Tigers' Alex Rance's neck that floored the Tigers captain.

Reigning AFL premiers Richmond moved a game clear at the top of the ladder with the 26-point win over the Swans.

Reece Conca of the Tigers is seen after sustaining an injury during the Round 15 AFL match

Original Article

[contf]
[contfnew]

ABC .net

[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]

Related Posts