Dustin Martin has been ruled out of Opening Round after a training incident on Tuesday.
As first reported by SEN’s Sam Edmund, Martin was sent for scans on Tuesday after copping a corked calf earlier in training.
While scans came back clear, the 32-year-old superstar was in doubt for the clash. The Tigers ruled Martin out early on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s match against Gold Coast at Heritage Bank Stadium.
The Tigers face Carlton in Round 1 five days after Opening Round, with Adem Yze citing that as a factor.
“The risk of him playing this weekend is going to be too high… We’ve got a five-day break leading into the Carlton game and he’s too important for us,” Yze told reporters.
Martin has made 289 AFL appearances across his illustrious career and is expected to play game no.300 at some stage in 2024.
Richmond will also be without captain Toby Nankervis when they take on the Suns, with the skipper ruled out with a hand injury.