Richmond youngster Luke Trainor has again succumbed to concussion, ruling him out of a VFL appearance against Carlton this weekend.
The 20-year-old Sandringham Dragons product was taken with pick 21 in the 2024 National Draft, with concussion concerns as a junior cause for clubs to pause when considering recruiting the talented defender.
This latest setback, stemming from a knock sustained at training, comes as he was charting a course back to the senior side following a hip injury sustained the Tigers' Round 12 belting at the hands of Sydney.
Trainor managed 21 games in his debut season, and has been seen at AFL level seven times in 2026.
It continues a worrying trend at Tigerland - the bulk of their vaunted draft crops in the last two seasons have struggled for consistency with their bodies, with Josh Smillie yet to debut, former first overall pick Sam Lalor perpetually hampered by niggles, and a laundry list of their contemporaries also experiencing long-term setbacks.
It's better news for utility Judson Clarke, however. The 23-year-old will this weekend make a return to football, following his third ACL injury. The East Ringwood product first required a reconstruction at 16 years of age, and has battled demons in his rehabilitation journey.
The 30th pick in the 2021 National Draft, who hasn't been sighted in the top flight for more than 800 days, took the time to reflect on the long road back, when speaking to Richmond media.
"It was tough. The toughest part was that it happened so soon [after second ACL return]. It was only five games since I'd returned. It was really hard. I remember Jack Ziebell [assistant coach] was there with me in the change rooms a year ago. I was in a bad head space doing it again, breaking down, crying, asking, 'why me?'," he said.
"The little wins kept me positive, like getting off crutches. It's important to celebrate those wins. That's how I found happiness in those dark times. Be grateful everyday, because my job is still to get my body in the best shape I can, and keep that mental energy."
Harry Armstrong, pick 23 in the 2024 National Draft also returns through the VFL this weekend, having overcome a foot complaint that has sidelined him since Round 3.
