RICHMOND has suffered a massive double blow ahead of its Thursday night clash with Adelaide, losing skipper Trent Cotchin to another hamstring complaint and Shane Edwards to hamstring tendinitis.
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Cotchin has missed seven matches this season with a hamstring injury and has pulled up sore.
Edwards ran laps in the portion of training that was open to media on Tuesday, and has not made the trip over to Adelaide.
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With Edwards taking the role of acting captain when Cotchin was previously sidelined, and vice-captains Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance also injured, there's now a big leadership hole for the Tigers.
Options for captain include Dylan Grimes, Nick Vlastuin and Bachar Houli.
The Tigers' head of football Neil Balme initially said Cotchin was a "chance" of not playing, but later clarified that while hadn't reinjured his hamstring he will not play regardless.
He wouldn't be drawn on whether it was the previously injured hamstring that was sore, or his other leg.
"Funny you ask me that, I don't think he's going to play, he's a touch sore. It puts a bit more pressure on, but that's all right," Balme told reporters at Melbourne Airport.
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"He's just a bit sore in the hamstring, but it's not the same. I reckon if he hadn't have had the problem before, he would have played.
"The fact we're playing on the Thursday makes it more difficult. If we'd played on Saturday or Sunday [he was a chance], but we won't take the risk.
"If he hurts it again and misses a heap of footy, I reckon that's much harder to deal with than just missing the one."
Richmond's playing stocks are already under the pump. Dustin Martin has a corkie - but is expected to play - and Nick Vlastuin is under a cloud with a hip injury.
Superstar Tiger Dustin Martin taking it easy at training on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images
The Tigers also have best-22 players Alex Rance (ACL), Jack Riewoldt (PCL), Jayden Short (elbow), David Astbury (hamstring), Toby Nankervis (adductor), Jack Ross (ankle) and Kane Lambert (Achilles) sidelined.
Brandon Ellis (groin) is available for selection after missing last week's loss to Geelong, while Nathan Broad, Shai Bolton and Mabior Chol all played well in the VFL.
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There isn't a clear-cut midfield replacement for Cotchin. A small forward such as Daniel Rioli, Jack Higgins or Liam Baker could spend more time in the middle if Bolton comes into the side.
