RICHMOND will be facing a leadership hole against Port Adelaide on Saturday, with captain Trent Cotchin and vice-captains Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt all injured.
The Tigers have run with a three-man leadership group for the past three seasons and don't have a straightforward replacement with the trio on the sidelines.
FULL INJURY LIST Who's ruled out and who's a test?
Defender Nick Vlastuin appears to be the front runner for the captaincy; the 24-year-old was Vic Metro's under-18 captain in 2012 and led the side during a pre-season match in 2016.
Fellow back Dylan Grimes could also be an option, with the dependable player having won the team's past two Francis Bourke awards for demonstrating club values.
Virgin Australia AFL All Australian midfielder Shane Edwards, 30, is also a viable candidate.
Shane Edwards in action during the Tigers' R2 clash against the Pies. Picture: AFL Photos
Cotchin will miss up to three weeks with a hamstring injury, Riewoldt is also around three weeks away with a wrist complaint, while Rance is out for the season after undergoing a knee reconstruction.
Cotchin's injury could not have come at a worse time for the club, which has lost its past two games by 44 points (Collingwood) and 49 points (Greater Western Sydney).
Richmond has had several senior players sidelined in recent weeks, with Josh Caddy (ankle), Shaun Grigg (knee), Grimes (suspension) and Bachar Houli (hamstring) all missing.
While Caddy is likely to play his first AFL game for the season, superstar midfielder Dustin Martin will also miss due to a one-game suspension for an off-the-ball elbow to Giant Adam Kennedy's head.
DUSTY DECISION Finally some good news for Tigers
Former Tiger Brett Deledio was the last player to captain Richmond in a home and away match outside of Cotchin, Rance and Riewoldt.
Deledio led the team in rounds seven and eight of 2016, while retired ruckman Ivan Maric took the reins in round 22 of 2015.
MISSING TIGERS
Jack Riewoldt (wrist, 251 games)
Trent Cotchin (hamstring, 223)
Shaun Grigg (knee, 214)
Dustin Martin (suspension, 204)
Alex Rance (knee reconstruction, 200)
MISSING IN R3 BUT IN THE MIX
Bachar Houli (hamstring, 186 games)
Josh Caddy (ankle, 139)
Dylan Grimes (suspension, 129)
