Richmond hope Jacob Hopper has avoided a serious hamstring injury as the luckless midfielder deals with another setback.
Hopper is set for another stint on the sidelines after leaving the field in distress in the third quarter of Richmond's 13.7 (85) to 5.12 (42) defeat to Melbourne at the MCG on Wednesday night.
The 27-year-old had felt for his hamstring earlier but waved away medical staff and played on, only to pull up sore when handballing mere minutes later.
Hopper, who had just returned from knee surgery, kicked a water bottle on the bench in frustration before heading straight down the tunnel.
Coach Adem Yze insisted Hopper hadn't exacerbated the problem by staying on the field.
"I don't think it made it worse. I think it's one of the first games that he's played with tape on his knee," Yze said.
"We originally thought it was something to do with the tape, whether the tape was too tight or things like that.
"And he hasn't hurt his hammy before, so he tried to stay out there and run it out. I don't think he's made it any worse, but I think the fact that he had the taped knee made it a little bit uncomfortable.
"Just feel sorry for him, hopefully it's not a bad one but I think it's just a minor tweak."
Hopper joins the likes of Tom Lynch, Noah Balta and Tim Taranto among a lengthy injury list.
The 27-year-old was playing just his third match for the year.
Hopper played 16 of 23 games last year and just seven at GWS in 2022.
"We'll just wrap our arms around him. He's a terrific guy, he's a really strong leader of our footy club," Yze said.
"If he's going to miss a game or two, we'll get behind him and he's a professional guy that will get himself back as quick as he can."
Marlion Pickett avoided suspension for hitting Clayton Oliver in the stomach, causing the star Demon to drop to the turf just before quarter-time.
Match review officer Michael Christian assessed the incident as low impact, body contact and intentional conduct, with Pickett able to accept a $3,750 fine for striking.
Yze won't speak to Pickett about curbing his aggression - and had been confident he wouldn't be suspended.
"He's a tough competitor, Marlion, and if he's gone outside the rules we'll have to deal with that. But hopefully it was just a little love tap," Yze said.
"It's a tough one. He's got some white-line fever and that's what we like about him.
"So no, we won't be curtailing that for sure. We want him to play hard and that's his game."
Australian Associated Press
