Richmond Tigers coach Adem Yze admits that consistently losing player to injury mid-game has quelled his young side's chances of being competitive in 2026's early sledding.
The Tigers have a considerable contingent of talent currently populating their rehabilitation rooms, and it's forcing the third-year coach to play some players ahead of schedule, and sacrifice selection integrity he'd otherwise look to implement.
"We're going through it a little bit at the moment, but we're positive," Yze told Fox Footy's AFL360.
"You feel for your younger players (who are injured). They want to be out there each week, performing, and helping their side to win.
"It just makes it hard for a young list when you're losing players in-game, missing rotations and things like that," he added, referencing the fact his side have been ‘in games' before losing magnets this year, putting undue stress on his young, unseasoned list.
Yze has seemingly heard the narratives surrounding the poor form of one of the club's many highly-touted draftees in recent years. Key forward prospect Jonty Faull has struggled to make an impact at the level, and Yze admits he lacks the lever that he would otherwise use as a tool to develop the young man - dropping him to the twos.
"Jonty Faull, right now, is battling," Yze said.
"He's a high draft pick. The best case for Jonty would be to go back and play VFL footy and get some confidence, but right now he's got to deal with it (his poor form) at AFL level, because we don't have the cattle behind him. He's learning on the run, and we're dealing with it week-to-week."
Despite their winless start and obvious challenges, Yze has found reason for optimism, in the form of the debuts handed to basketball convert Oliver Hayes-Brown, and off-season acquisition from the Cattery, lifelong Tigers fan, Patrick Retschko.
"There's still blue sky," he said, in reference to the realised dreams of the duo.
Yze did his best to appear philosophical, but outside narratives have turned in recent weeks, and the goodwill associated with his appointment of the struggling club, seemingly running out.
“We'll be better for it in the long run, (we're) a little bit of pain right now, but we'll be okay.”
The Tigers face an upstart Demons outfit on ANZAC Eve, in what has become one of the standout fixtures on the yearly calendar.
