Find out all you need to know from the papers around the country in the latest Swans in the media for Tuesday May 31, 2016.
Sydney rules out Ted Richards for two more weeks
Ben Horne
Daily Telegraph, May 31
SYDNEY Swans key defender Ted Richards has been ordered to sit out another two weeks due to the ongoing effects of concussion, but hasn’t been spoken to by the club about his long-term future in the AFL.
Richards is still not feeling 100 per cent after copping a head knock against Hawthorn two matches ago, although Sydney are encouraged by the fact the 33-year-old’s scans have come up clear.
One punter yesterday outplayed a massive $20,000 on the Swans to win the premiership with the TAB as Sydney shortened to $5 equal favourites.
Richards will miss this weekend’s clash against the Gold Coast and most importantly next round’s ding dong derby against Greater Western Sydney.
But despite speculation that this injury could potentially spell the end of Richards’ career, coach John Longmire says the topic has not come up and expects his premiership-winning star to still play a major role in the team’s finals’ push.
“I haven’t had those discussions with him at all. The only discussions I’ve had are he won’t play this week or next week and then we’ll begin the preparations for him to play,” Longmire said.
“He had scans last week and all that was all clear and he’s feeling a lot better. He’s still not absolutely 100 per cent right so we’ve just made the decision early to rule him out for the next two weeks to make sure he recovers fully.”
No talk of retirement for Richards
Andrew Wu
SMH, May 31
Ted Richards' playing future remains unclear after Sydney ruled him out for another two weeks but coach John Longmire says he has not discussed retirement with his defender.
The veteran is still feeling the effects of concussion 11 days after his head hit the turf at the MCG. Fairfax Media understands the veteran saw a specialist on Monday afternoon and though the club is adamant retirement is not on the agenda, those close to him cannot be certain he will play again.
Richards, who is set to work in the finance sector after football, has suffered six or seven concussions throughout his 259-game career, the latest episode coming 10 months after he was knocked out in a sling tackle by Port Adelaide's Jay Schulz. He missed one match on that occasion but this time will be sidelined for at least three games.
"He had scans last week and all that was clear," Longmire said. "He's feeling a lot better, he's still not absolutely 100 per cent right so we've just made the decision early to rule him out the next two weeks, make sure he recovers fully and then go about the preparation for playing."
Longmire said Richards would not need more scans to determine his fitness.
Swans deny Ted will be forced out
Peter Lalor
The Australian, May 31
Ted Richards had four painkilling injections as part of a massive medical intervention that allowed him to play in the side’s 2012 premiership, but no risks are being taken with the defender’s health in 2016 as he faces at least another two weeks on the sidelines with concussion.
With the Swans now premiership favourites there is conjecture that the defender, who was also concussed last season, may have played his last game, although this has been denied by the club.
The Swans are adamant there have been no discussions with the 33-year-old beyond his immediate future.
Richards missed the Swans’ win over North Melbourne last Friday night following an incident in the Hawthorn game the week before.
The club say scans cleared the defender of any serious damage but as he was not feeling well yesterday so a decision was made to rule him out of this weekend’s clash against the Gold Coast and the derby against Greater Western Sydney the following week.
“He takes medical advice like we all do,” coach Longmire said.
“The doctors are confident after seeing his scans that he’s good, and that’s what gives him confidence as well.
“We thought we’d make the decision early and get him right over the next couple of weeks before he begins his preparation to get back to playing.”