Richmond have copped yet another injury with veteran Dion Prestia lasting just minutes into Saturday’s clash against West Coast.
Already dealing with the longest injury list in the competition, the Tigers found themselves one player down in the opening quarter.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Prestia ruled out with calf injury
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Prestia pulled up sore off the ball before limping from the field with a lower leg issue.
The club quickly confirmed the 33-year-old suffered a calf injury and will play no further part.
Given his history with soft-tissue injuries, it will likely result in a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
He becomes the 17th player on the injury list after boom youngster Sam Lalor suffered a “partial Achilles injury” at training on Thursday.
Of all the injured players, Tim Taranto is the only one who is a chance of returning next week as he works his way back from a concussion suffered a fortnight ago.
Meanwhile, Richmond said Lalor pick will be assessed in the coming days before a timeline is set for his return.
“We are disappointed for Sam, whose injury occurred during training on Thursday,” football boss Tim Livingstone said.
“Sam is the consummate professional who will attack his rehab with the necessary care and commitment.”
Lalor is the seventh injured Tiger without a clear timeframe.
Josh Gibcus left the Tigers’ VFL game over the weekend with a knee concern and returned to play, only to be diagnosed with an ACL sprain.
“He will sit out the next little while as we decide what our course of action is going to be. It is an uncommon injury, so we need to be considered with our approach for his return to play,” fitness boss Ben Serpell said this week.
“We need to consult a number of different surgeons. We can see, for instance, Gab Seymour from our women’s program sustained a similar injury last year. She didn’t go through surgery, and she’s back out training.
“So we are hoping for the best for Josh. To be clear, this is not the same knee that Josh underwent reconstruction surgery for not long ago, and we’ll update our fans when we can on the course of action we’ll take with Josh Gibcus.”
Josh Smillie suffered a fresh tear of the quad injury he has been recovering from last week.
“To be clear, the original surgical site’s still intact, so we are going to shift him back to the TBC time frame,” Serpell said.
“Both Joshes (Smillie and Gibcus) are clearly very frustrated with their injuries at this point in time, as is everyone at the club.
“I think at this point in time it’s really important that we get our arms around these guys and support them through their respective recoveries and make sure that we get behind them as they progress forward.”
Judson Clarke (ACL) recently returned from a trip to the USA and is set to step up his training in May.
Rhyan Mansell and Tom Sims are dealing with foot issues while Taj Hotton is out with a hip injury.
Kaleb Smith (groin), Maurice Rioli (hamstring), Toby Nankervis (hamstring), Jasper Alger (knee), Harry Armstrong (foot), Zane Peucker (ankle), Hugo Ralphsmith (MCL) and Tim Taranto (concussion) and Sam Banks (collarbone) round out the Tigers’ injury list.
Serpell said Taranto progressed “very well” through concussion protocols and only needed to get through one more session to be named to face the Eagles.
But he did not join Jayden Short, Tyler Sonsie and Oliver Hayes-Brown among the ins. Ralphsmith, Lalor and Samson Ryan (dropped) made way.
