# Recurring Colt Keith injury fears cloud Tigers’ gutsy win over Royals ## Keith set to consult specialist ### New setback for young gun Richmond have rallied behind the loss of livewire forward Colt Keith to record a gritty win over Swan Hill in Saturday’s Round 16 blockbuster. But fresh injury concerns have cast a cloud over the triumph, with Keith set to consult a specialist this week to determine the extent of the ankle issue that forced him from the ground in the third quarter at Trevor Barker Oval. After missing the Tigers’ first six matches with a syndesmosis injury, Keith has been in scintillating form since his return, booting 18 goals in 10 outings. But a seemingly innocuous tackle in the premiership quarter on Saturday ended his day prematurely, sparking fears of another lengthy stint on the sidelines. “He’s got a bit of a history with that ankle, unfortunately,” Richmond coach Tim Shearer said. “It’s obviously not ideal when you lose players, let alone players of his quality. “But we’ve got a fair bit of depth at the moment and our boys are really starting to find their feet. “So while this is disappointing, it’s not the end of the world.” Shearer said he was confident Keith would return to the field before the finals, but admitted the club wouldn’t take any risks with the highly-rated youngster. “We’ll see what the specialist says, but I’d say he’ll be out for a few weeks at least,” Shearer said. “We’re not going to rush him back. We want him cherry ripe for the important stuff.” Keith’s injury overshadowed a gutsy performance from the Tigers, who overcame the loss of key playmaker Jack Graham (concussion) to claim a 15-point victory. In a see-sawing contest, the Tigers steadied when it mattered most, kicking the only two goals of the final term to secure the 10.11 (71) to 8.12 (60) triumph. Jacob Cahill was superb for the Tigers, finishing with 25 disposals, 11 clearances and a goal, while Lachie Swift (20 disposals, seven marks) was also influential. At the other end of the ground, Connor Byrne continued his impressive season, collecting 22 disposals and holding Swan Hill spearhead Lachlan McKenzie goalless. For Swan Hill, Brody Webster was a standout with 26 disposals and nine tackles, while Tom Phillips kicked three goals. The win keeps Richmond in touch with the top five, while Swan Hill remains eighth. **Tigers’ injury list continues to grow** Keith’s injury is the latest in a long line of setbacks for the Tigers this season. Graham is expected to miss at least one more week with concussion, while Sam Lloyd (knee), Sam Collins (ankle) and Maurice Rioli Jr (knee) are all on the long-term injury list. However, Shearer said he was confident the Tigers had the depth to cover their losses. “We’ve got a few players out at the moment, but we’ve got a lot of good young players coming through,” Shearer said. “We’re confident we can still make a run at the finals.”
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