Thomson will be without Jacob Knight for its premiership defence after scans confirmed the star forward has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament for the third time.
K rock Football understands Knight, who kicked 46 goals for the Tigers in 2024, including three in the grand final win over the Belmont Lions, suffered the injury playing touch football.
“Unfortunately, they say bad luck comes in 3s (sic), and that happens to be my third ACL in as many years,” Knight wrote on Instagram.
“Unsure if my playing days are over or not; if so, it’s been a hell of a ride, and (I) went out on a high.”
The Tasmanian native made his name in Queensland, kicking 97 goals in 2021 and 109 in 2022 playing for Hinterland Blues.
After ten goals in two games in Thomson’s reserves in rounds 6 and 7, Knight made his senior debut for the Tigers in Round 8, kicking six goals on three occasions, and was held goalless just once.
Thomson will be without at least three premiership players when it opens its premiership defence against Geelong West at West Oval on April 5.
Charley Donohue has joined 2018 Tigers’ premiership coach Reece Holwell at Warrnambool and District League club Nirranda, while Logan Mitchell is heading to Tantanoola in South Australia’s South East region.
However, veteran Paul Davis (Mallee Giants) and ruck Andrew Jarvis have returned, with Lara duo Dylan Jose and Kane Higgins, and former Bell Park, Grovedale and Bannockburn player Patty Knott (Horsham Saints) have signed at Godfrey Street.
More to come
X: @krockfootball
