Richmond's Hugo Ralphsmith has suffered another yet another setback in his 2026 season.
During Richmond's VFL game against Sydney, the midfielder was reported for striking Swans player Max Geddes during the second quarter. Geddes dispossessed Ralphsmith in a tackle inside the forward 50 which prompted Ralphsmith to take a swing at Geddes, seemingly colliding with his head and causing both players to hit the ground.
Geddes was then taken off the field for treatment.
The incident was considered to be intentional conduct with medium impact and high contact. The penalty for striking is a three match ban, though it can be reduced to only two matches if the player makes an early guilty plea.
It's yet another obstacle for the young Tiger, who was playing his first game after making his way off the Tigers' seemingly never-ending injury list. Ralphsmith, who sustained an MCL injury in Round 7, has only managed to play five games this season. The cult hero, now without the locks with which he was once synonymous, also suffered multiple hamstring injuries in 2025, limiting his season to 12 games.
It was a messy round for the VFL. Box Hill Hawk Cody Anderson was also reported for striking St Kilda's Billy McGee Galimberti (low level offence) and GWS' Finnegan Davis was done for forceful front on contact against Casey Demon Luamon Lual. While Anderson is likely to only face a reprimand, Davis is likely to cop a fine.
