How Should Richmond Supporters Read Another Josh Smillie Injury Delay?

RTSSG’s full member feature “Josh Smillie — The Story Being Told… And The One Richmond Are Actually Backing” is the source for this Public investigation.

In March 2026, another Josh Smillie update pushed his return back by an estimated six to eight weeks. For a highly rated young player already waiting to establish continuity, the absence inevitably became part of the public story.

But what is the right inference from another delay? When does concern about availability become a judgement about the player, and what evidence would be needed before those two things can fairly be connected?

What was Richmond still backing internally that supporters had barely had the chance to see at AFL level? And how should draft position change patience — if it should change it at all?

The full feature separates the visible injury timeline from the football question Richmond was still trying to answer about Smillie.

Read the full member feature here.

Read the full RTSSG investigation

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