Richmond defender Reece Conca has been placed on the Club’s long-term injury list.

Conca will miss the first 8-10 weeks of the 2016 AFL season after injuring his hamstring in last Thursday’s final NAB Challenge match against Port Adelaide.

The 23-year-old’s injury is high up in his hamstring, near the tendon, which means the recovery will be a longer-term process.

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Richmond’s General Manager of Football, Dan Richardson, said the Club did not want to rush Conca’s return.

“The advice from our medical team is that Reece’s injury rehabilitation time will be a minimum eight weeks, so we felt that placing him on the long-term injury list will give him the necessary time to get his body right to play for us later in the season,” Richardson said.

“It also gives us the option to elevate another rookie-listed player. We have a number of rookie-listed players working really hard to earn a place on the senior list.”

Earlier this week, Richmond named Jason Castagna as its nominated rookie for 2016.  

The Club can promote another rookie-listed player, given Conca’s long-term injury, but it is yet to decide who that will be.