RICHMOND is counting the cost of its devastating loss to Gold Coast on Saturday night with injuries to three key big men.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick confirmed post-match co-captain Toby Nankervis had suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury, while fellow ruckman Ivan Soldo has a broken thumb.
Power forward Tom Lynch left Metricon Stadium in the opening quarter with a hamstring injury.
"We mightn't have any rucks next week, so it's going to be a challenge," Hardwick said following the two-point loss.
Richmond was already without injured trio Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Kane Lambert, along with suspended Nick Vlastuin, and Hardwick said the lack of experience showed when it counted.
The Tigers bombed numerous chances in the final quarter to put the game away after having a 40-point lead early in the third term.
"You've got opportunities to finish. It's not as if they were hard shots on goal but you've just got to execute those," Hardwick said.
"I thought we left numerous goals on the table. Lots. The fact of the matter is that if you leave the door open, you get hurt.
"It’s disappointing, but credit to Gold Coast.
"The second half of the game was very, very dominant and we just didn't respond well enough and couldn't execute the fundamentals of the game well enough, for long enough.
"Our ball security was really poor (in the fourth quarter).
"We just lost our composure…we've been an experienced side for a fair period of time but we've got a lot of inexperience in there at the moment.
"It was a tough day at the office, no question."
