Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has been ruled out of Saturday night’s match against Essendon at the MCG due to back soreness.
It will be the first game Cotchin has missed since Round 7, 2013, when the Tigers defeated Port Adelaide in Adelaide.
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Hard-nosed midfielder Matt Thomas has been recalled to the line-up as a replacement for Cotchin.
Reliable defender Dylan Grimes also returns to the side after being sidelined for two games with a minor hamstring injury.
Grimes replaced Steve Morris, who has been omitted.
The Tigers’ three emergencies for the Round 22 clash are Morris, Chris Knights and Shaun Hampson.
Get all the match day information for Saturday night's match against Essendon at the MCG
The Round 22 Tiger Team
B: Newman, Batchelor, Rance
HB: Houli, Vlastuin, Chaplin
C: B. Ellis, Thomas, McIntosh
HF: Martin, Lennon, Lambert
F: Riewoldt, Deledio, Vickery
R: Maric, Grigg, Hunt
IC: Grimes, Miles, Lloyd, Edwards
Em: Morris, Knights, Hampson
In: Thomas, Grimes
Out: Cotchin (back), Morris (omitted)
Milestone: Ty Vickery’s 100th game
