In a torrid turn of events, Richmond could be forced to seek AFL permission to call up non-listed players to fill their emergency positions for their next match, such is the nature of their injury crisis.
On Saturday, the Tigers' VFL side fielded a team that featured no AFL-listed players, in an unfortunate rarity.
Things have gone from bad to worse to barely precedented since, after the loss of Campbell Gray in the first half of their AFL side's clash with St Kilda in their Sunday afternoon rendezvous.
The 22-year-old succumbed to a hamstring injury and will take no further part in the contest.
Gray is the 19th player on the Tigers' injury list, and worryingly, many of the names populating the document are highly-touted draftees the Richmond have invested heavily into in recent years. Joining the likes of Sam Lalor, Josh Gibcus, Josh Smillie and Taj Hotton are crucial veterans Toby Nankervis, Sam Banks, Dion Prestia and Rhyan Mansell.
Debutant Noah Roberts-Thompson kicked two first half goals to provide a spark for the limping Tigers, who expect to welcome troops back after the bye, but will be cutting it very fine to field a team of listed players for Friday night's traditional Dreamtime clash with fellow battlers, Essendon.
Tom Sims and Jasper Alger are expected to make returns through the VFL in Round 11, while Mykelti Lefau was managed for Sunday afternoon's clash, so there is hope yet for these wounded Tigers.
The situation bears striking resemblance to the mire the West Coast Eagles nervously navigated in 2022, when injuries and the Covid pandemic reduced their player availability drastically, and WAFL players took the field for the powerful club.
