Christian Petracca’s hamstring injury will not only hurt Gold Coast, it will also impact his former club’s bottom line after an afternoon of carnage at the MCG on Saturday.
The Suns, led by an equal career-high seven goals from Ben King, posted a 68-point win over Richmond, but it’s the injury toll to both teams that will dominate headlines.
While the Tigers lost both veteran forward Tom Lynch and skipper Toby Nankervis to hamstring strains, it was Petracca’s injury that will have the greatest ramification this early in the season.
He was hurt in the third term when tackled from behind by James Trezise. He left the field proppy, and was soon seen on the bench with ice strapped to his right hamstring. The full extent of the injury will be known after scans.
The Norm Smith Medal-winning former Demon, 30, had been one of the best afield, racking up 20 disposals and 285 metres gained.
The Suns have the bye next week, and then will meet the Demons on a Sunday afternoon at the MCG.
Petracca will be remembered as a great of the Melbourne Football Club but he had a tumultuous final two years at the club before his departure in last year’s trade period.
The Demons are expecting a bumper crowd of between 40,000 and 50,000 if Petracca plays, a club spokesman estimated on Saturday. This would be a welcome bump for their finances. But, without Petracca, the expected attendance is likely to take a significant dip.
The Tigers will be without Lynch and Nankervis after the former was hurt in the second term, and the latter in the third. Lynch left the field after clutching high up on the back of his leg after having a direct hand in a Nick Vlastuin goal.
Coach Adem Yze said it was the first time the champion goalkicker had injured his right hamstring.
Without their veteran forward to kick to, the Tigers appeared almost rudderless, their pressure in the contest dropping considerably. Lynch’s absence allowed the Suns’ defenders to counter-attack more, the Suns finishing on a six-goal tear, to take a 31-point lead into the main break.
Their game is built on over-lap run, and that was evident in the superb finish to the term.
King, Joel Jeffrey, Will Graham and Ethan Read, the latter given the nod ahead of recruit Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to start the season, were all influential throughout the afternoon.
Midfielder Touk Miller was best afield with his run and carry through the midfield.
“It was a really good win,” King said.
Veteran Tiger Jayden Short found plenty of the ball, while youngster Sam Lalor showed flashes of brilliance.
In a year when the Suns are expected to be a premiership contender, they now have three straight wins by 50 points or more for the first time in their history.
