Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin has been ruled out of tonight's season opener, with Jack Ross set to replace his skipper.
SEN's Sam Edmund first reported earlier on Thursday that Cotchin was in doubt to face the Blues after being struck down with a bout of gastro.
Richmond captain @tcotchin9 will miss tonightโs game against Carlton due to illness. pic.twitter.com/LwFf5v7AA4
— Richmond FC ๐ฏ๐ (@Richmond_FC) March 18, 2021
The midfielder did not train yesterday but was believed to be a chance to line-up in the MCG clash, with the Tigers saying today at lunchtime he was โvery much in the mixโ.
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However, Cotchin has since gone downhill and has since been confirmed as a late withdrawal by the Tigers.
Ross is set to be added to Damien Hardwick's 22 after initially being named as emergency, with Marlion Pickett, Mabior Chol and Will Martyn all missing out the premature call-up, perย Fox Footy'sย Tom Morris.
The Tigers are at near full strength outside of Bachar Houli (calf) and Ivan Soldo (ACL).
Meanwhile, the Blues go into the contest without a host of players from its best 22, including ย Zac Williams, Jack Martin, Eddie Betts, Mitch McGovern, Caleb Marchbank, Tom De Koning, Nic Newman and Charlie Curnow.
Tonight's clash will get underway at 7.25pm AEDT, with final teams to be confirmed an hour before the first bounce.
Richmond said this morning that Trent Cotchin was not in doubt but things have gone downhill since then and there is now major doubt over his availability https://t.co/TxgFIBWOgq
— Daniel Cherny ๐ฐ (@DanielCherny) March 18, 2021
