RICHMOND has confirmed forward Kayne Pettifer will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the VFL on Sunday.

Pettifer, 26, sustained the injury while playing for Coburg against Williamstown at Burbank Oval.

He has played nine games in the VFL and made six senior appearances for the Tigers in his eighth year at the club.

Richmond operations manager Paul Armstrong told afl.com.au that surgeon Julian Feller will perform the full reconstruction later this week.

"It's disappointing for Kayne given he's had a couple of injuries this year already and was just starting to get back to full match fitness," he said.

"Unfortunately it's happened very early on the weekend during the game, and now he'll miss the remainder of the year.

"He had overcome some injury problems earlier in the season and was starting to play some good footy."

Before this year Pettifer had played every game for the seniors in the last three seasons and was regarded as one of the side's most consistent players.

Armstrong said the 109-game player was hoping to break back into the senior side this year, as he had overcome a hip problem as well as started to recapture some form.

"You'd have to ask him, but he'd be really disappointed himself," he said.

"The team is going okay at senior level and he was keen to be back playing as part of that.

"Unfortunately that won't be the case for this year."

Armstrong preferred not to comment on how the injury will affect Pettifer's long-term future at the club.