Richmond’s defensive lineup faces a setback as Jayden Short is set to sit out the Anzac Day Eve showdown against Melbourne due to a calf strain sustained during Sunday’s match against West Coast. The 28-year-old, no stranger to calf issues in the past, is expected to be sidelined for up to three weeks, ruling him out for clashes against Melbourne and Fremantle. The Tigers are eyeing his return for the round nine game against the Western Bulldogs.
This latest blow adds to Richmond’s extensive injury list, making Adem Yze’s debut season at Punt Road challenging. With Short joining the ranks of sidelined players, including Judson Clarke who recently suffered an ACL tear in the VFL, and Tim Taranto who broke his wrist in training, the Tigers now have 14 players unavailable due to injuries. This scarcity of fit players was evident in their recent VFL match, where only seven AFL-listed players could participate, and Clarke suffered his injury.
The Tigers continue to face long-term absences, with star forward Tom Lynch still months away from recovering from a hamstring tendon injury, and promising youngster Josh Gibcus out for the remainder of the season following an ACL rupture. Meanwhile, former captain Dylan Grimes and midfielder Jacob Hopper are hopeful of making their returns against Melbourne after dealing with wrist and knee issues, respectively.
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