Richmond midfielder Jacob Hopper has caused confusion after appearing “distraught” by a hamstring injury in his return game — only to remain on the field.
The 27-year-old grabbed at his leg following a marking contest in the third quarter of the Tigers’ clash with Melbourne at the MCG on Wednesday night.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: ‘Distraught’ Tigers star kicks out in frustration after initially refusing to leave the field.
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Channel 7 commentators were convinced he would head off the field to be assessed, particularly given his previous soft-tissue concerns.
“I reckon Jacob Hopper’s done something here. He’s really upset. He’s really distraught,” Cameron Ling said.
After it was noted Hopper did not immediately head off to the bench, Ling added: “I think that’s just disappointment.”
But Hopper, who was quizzed briefly by a club doctor, hung around for the next centre bounce.
“It’s almost strange that he wouldn’t come down to the bench. He’s clearly done something,” Ling said.
“This is really strange. You can see Hopper grab at his left hamstring manning the mark. He got really upset, he did something there, he was distraught. You could see his action there, just really disappointed. Amazingly though, he’s stayed in, I have no idea what’s just happened.”
Hopper kept playing for several minutes, with Ling noting the midfielder was still feeling his leg at times, before eventually going to the bench.
He kicked a drink bottle in frustration and headed into the rooms, with Kamdyn McIntosh substituted into the game in his place.
Hopper is just weeks removed from undergoing a knee arthroscopy and was playing his first AFL game since Round 2.
“Always a worry when you come back (and cop) a soft tissue (injury),” Matthew Richardson said.
Tigers coach Adem Yze said the initial signs are that Hopper could miss one or two weeks.
He said the midfielder did not make his injury worse by staying on the field despite his night ending after one last moment of soreness.
“I think it’s one of the first games that he’s played with tape on his knee,” Yze said.
“We originally thought it was something to do with the tape, whether the tape was too tight or things like that.
“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 the taped knee made it a little bit uncomfortable.
“Disappointing for the guy … just feel sorry for him, hopefully it’s not a bad one but I think it’s just a minor tweak.”
As he left the field Hopper was comforted by Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver, a long-time fan and a family friend off the field.
“In under-18s he was the man, I loved watching him,” Oliver told Channel 7 after the game.
“He was an absolute superstar. I didn’t get to play him but I always admired him.
“He’s a really good fella, fingers crossed. Obviously getting injured is no good so I just wanted to make sure he was alright.”
Hopper’s setback adds to a horror injury list at Punt Road.
Star forward Tom Lynch, Dion Prestia and Jacob Bauer are all out with hamstring problems, with Lynch the worst hit and still at least two months away.
Tim Taranto could still miss eight weeks with his fractured wrist, as could Jack Ross with his foot injury, while Judson Clarke and Josh Gibcus will miss the rest of the season with ACL tears.
“There’s not a lot of troops coming in the next few weeks,” Richardson said.
“They’ve just got to hang tough … get game time into some young players, I guess that’s the silver lining.
“The ones you can’t replace are the key position players. Plus Prestia and Taranto are best-and-fairest winners, they’re hard to replace as well.
“It is a transitional period for Richmond but the amount of injuries has certainly hastened where they’re at.”
