Richards Rushed To Hospital

Sydney's $247k defender Ted Richards will miss at least 6 weeks after being rushed to hospital after puncturing a lung and breaking a rib late in the Swans loss to Carlton today.

Richards, who is owned by just over 5,000 DT coaches, suffered the injury very late in the contest after a collision with Carlton's Brendon Fevola.

Swans club doctor Nathan Gibbs said, "He remained stable when he came off the ground and we didn't have to do an emergency chest decompression.

"We monitored him and got him straight to hospital where he had a chest drain inserted into his lung to reinflate the lung. He is now doing well and his lung is back to two-thirds it's size within ten minutes of the drain being inserted."

Richards will stay in hospital for another 2-3 days, but his recovery will take a minimum of six weeks.

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Thompson: Bartel & Johnson Back Next Week

Geelong coach Mark Thompson has suggested guns Steve Johnson and Jimmy Bartel will be ready to return for next weekend's Grand Final replay against Hawthorn.

$405k forward Johnson, owned by over 70,000 DT coaches, has missed the last few games with a hip complaint, along with popular $412k midfielder Jimmy Bartel who also had a hip problem this weekend.

But speaking after Geelong's win over Melbourne, Thompson hinted the pair as well as Tom Harley and James Kelly could return next round.

"It's hard, it is difficult [with making changes] and we'll probably get more than a good chance to get Steve Johnson back next week and more than a good chance to get Bartel and same with Tom," Thompson said.

"There will be possibly another three or four changes next week."

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