Richmond Football Club is implementing a meticulously patient, long-term strategy for the development of their prized yet untried midfielder, Josh Smillie. Coach Adem Yze has emphasized that the club’s primary focus is on ensuring the complete and sustainable recovery of the young talent, rather than rushing him back onto the field.
Selected with the highly coveted pick number 7 in the 2024 AFL Super Draft, Smillie represents a significant investment in the Tigers’ future. However, his nascent career has been largely defined by a challenging rehabilitation journey, keeping him on the club’s injury list for the majority of his time there. Current medical assessments indicate he remains approximately six to eight weeks away from being available for selection.
Yze provided detailed insight into the club’s cautious philosophy. He clarified that a recent quadriceps ‘tweak’ was separate from Smillie’s previous major operation in November, which the club had described as a necessary ‘circuit breaker’ for his frustrating debut season. The young midfielder has now commenced a carefully managed running program. Yze acknowledged the inherent frustration for a competitive athlete, stating that Smillie is a ‘highly driven kid’ who is eager to contribute to the team’s resurgence, but the club must ‘temper that’ enthusiasm with prudent physical management.
A unique factor in Smillie’s situation is his recent physical development. Originally drafted as a 195cm player, he has grown an additional 3cm during his first year at the club, a physiological change that the medical and coaching staff are factoring into his tailored recovery plan. Yze confirmed that Smillie is in a ‘good spot mentally’ and was seen running at training, with the final steps now focused on achieving peak physical condition for the rigors of AFL football.