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The insane nine-year first facing luckless Richmond

Australian Associated Press

Richmond are facing an unthinkable scenario that Tigers fans haven’t seen since 2010 after a luckless start to their AFL season.

The Tigers could be without their big four – captain Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance – for the first time in nine years.

With Rance and Riewoldt already sidelined through injury, Martin was suspended for two games on Monday.

Martin was banned for his elbow on Adam Kennedy and also separately fined $1500 for striking tagger Matt de Boer.

The ban makes Martin ineligible for the Brownlow Medal, which he won two years ago, and puts him out of action for Richmond’s games against Port Adelaide and Sydney.

It is now up to the Tigers whether they take Martin’s striking ban to the tribunal.

The Tigers also announced on Monday that Cotchin is out of action for two to three weeks, saying he suffered a left hamstring strain in last Saturday’s loss to GWS.

The Tigers look set to be without every member of their Big Four for the first time since 2010. Pic: Getty
The Tigers look set to be without every member of their Big Four for the first time since 2010. Pic: Getty

In more bad news for Richmond, defender Jayden Short suffered a right dislocated elbow and will be out of action for eight weeks or more.

Short ruptured ligaments and was to visit a surgeon on Monday to figure out what to do next.

“We’re obviously disappointed to lose Trent and Jayden to injury for a period of time,” Tigers football boss Neil Balme said.

“Fortunately, we expect to bolster the team with some players to return from injuries, as well as Dylan Grimes being available for selection.”

Martin is in double trouble from the league and could face further financial sanction after losing his cool in the match.

The AFL could ask Martin to explain a couple of incidents where he flipped the bird to an opponent and also imitated snorting drugs.

There is speculation the drugs sledge was directed towards Shane Mumford, who was suspended for the opening two games this season after a video emerged of him snorting white powder.

Richmond have lost Rance for the rest of the season with a knee reconstruction, while Riewoldt has a wrist injury.

Since Martin made his AFL debut in round one of the 2010 season, members of the star quartet have always been in the Richmond senior team.

They had enjoyed a dream run with injuries – until Rance went down in round one; all of them had played at least 20 games per season since 2015.