Richmond midfielder Jack Ross will miss up to two months of action after scans unveiled a stress fracture in the 23-year-old's foot, while onballer Tim Taranto will also be sidelined for an extended period following a wrist injury sustained at training on Friday.
Ross, who was ruled out of Sunday's clash with West Coast at team selection on Thursday, was a surprise omission after not being listed as part of Richmond's extensive casualty ward earlier in the week.
The recent setback will see Ross require surgery, with the onballer set to miss a large portion of the season.
"He'll go in for surgery and I think it's going to keep him out for around eight weeks, which is really disappointing for him," coach Adem Yze revealed to media on Friday.
"He was in really good form, he started to get some continuity as a midfielder for us, and he had an interrupted season last year as well.
"We'll wrap our arms around him and help him through it."
Ross joins a long list of Tigers currently sidelined, with Jacob Hopper (knee), Dion Prestia (hamstring), Noah Balta (knee), Tom Lynch (hamstring) and Josh Gibcus (knee), among others, currently dealing with ailments.
Richmond's injury woes were further compounded at training this week, with Taranto hurting his wrist at Friday's main training session and now requires surgery on a fractured radius.
Taranto will be sidelined for an extended period.
“We are incredibly disappointed for Tim that he will miss some football, but we know the professional he is, he will keep himself fit and strong and return as quickly as he can,” Richmond football boss Tim Livingstone said of Taranto's setback.
“It was an unlucky incident right at the end of today's session. He will have it operated on immediately, and we will see where everything is at after that.”
The Tigers are set to face a winless West Coast outfit on Sunday at Optus Stadium, with Yze to make as many as five changes for Round 5.
Liam Baker, Hugo Ralphsmith, Sam Naismith and Sam Banks have all been named in Richmond's extended squad to face the Eagles, while potential debutant Steely Green has also been named in the extended squad in Taranto's absence and could be considered.
Tthe club will confirm a 23-man group at 5:00pm (AEST) on Friday.
