Suns star Rioli to undergo surgery; Bontempelli re-signs with Bulldogs

7 hours ago 3

In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:

Gold Coast star Daniel Rioli will undergo surgery on his fibula and be unavailable for several weeks.
Marcus Bontempelli has signed a four-year contract extension with the Western Bulldogs.

Rioli goes under the knife

Gold Coast star Daniel Rioli will undergo surgery on his fibula and be unavailable for several weeks, in a blow to the Suns’ finals hopes in the run to September.

Daniel Rioli came off injured during the Suns’ loss to the Crows.

Rioli suffered a leg injury before half-time in Sunday’s shocking 61-point loss to the Crows in Adelaide and had to limp off the ground. The 28-year-old had an operation on his knee in early December last year after sustaining an MCL injury.

“Scans on Monday shows that Daniel has sustained a small fracture to his fibula,” Suns’ head physiotherapist Lindsay Bull said in a statement.

“After discussing the results with Daniel, a decision was made that he will undergo an operation which will make him unavailable for selection for several weeks.”

It’s unwelcome news for Gold Coast, who are bidding to make a first ever finals appearance and who lost midfielder Touk Miller to a hamstring injury last week. The Suns have slid to eighth on the ladder and are set to face the reigning premiers Brisbane this Saturday.

Bont re-signs with Dogs

Marcus Bontempelli has signed a four-year contract extension with the Western Bulldogs and will remain at the club until the end of 2029.

The six-time All-Australian’s contract was due to expire at the end of the season but he will now be tied to the club until he is 34.

The midfielder was recently acknowledged as one of the club’s greatest players in a gala on Monday night. He turns 30 in November and recently hit his 250th game milestone.