Richards taken to hospital for checks

Sydney defender Ted Richards' AFL season looks over after he was taken to hospital
with a suspected punctured lung and broken rib following his side's heavy loss to
Carlton.
Richards was left coughing up blood after colliding heavily with teammate Craig
Bolton and Carlton's Brendan Fevola in a marking contest late in the Swans' 19.10
(124) to 9.9 (63) loss at Etihad Stadium.
Sydney coach Paul Roos said Richards was taken immediately to hospital following the
match despite bravely walking off the field under his own steam following the heavy
hit.
"Obviously it's a serious injury but I've just spoken to him before in the rooms and
he's okay," Roos said on Saturday.
"Hopefully they get him (to hospital) as quickly as they can and do what they have
to do."
Richards' injury compounded a difficult day for the Swans in a defeat Roos rated one
of his worst since taking charge of the club in mid-2002. The loss puts Sydney out
of finals contention.
The loss was all a less-than-ideal lead-up for the Swans' Hall of Fame dinner in
Melbourne on Saturday night, in which the club was due to announce its inaugural
entrants.