Richmond's No.1 ruckman Ivan Maric will miss the start of the AFL season after undergoing ankle surgery.
Coach Damien Hardwick raised the possibility at Saturday's pre-season match and the Tigers announced on Monday that Maric had gone under the knife.
Maric had bone spurs removed and will be out of action for six to eight weeks.
"It's good to get that done now, and start moving into his rehab phase, and hopefully get him back on track soon," Richmond elite performance manager Peter Burge told the club website.
"He's been able to train with it in the last couple of weeks, but he hasn't been 100 per cent comfortable.
"It was a decision we had to make - does he play with it the whole year, or do we just get it done now and get him right?"
Maric also needed groin surgery at the end of last season.
While his operation is a blow to the Tigers, they recruited Shaun Hampson from Carlton and he impressed in Saturday's Wangaratta win over Collingwood.
Back-up ruckman Ben Griffiths showed encouraging form as well.
Also on Monday, newcomer Ben Lennon had knee surgery and will be sidelined for about a month.
But in better news for the Tigers, key forward Jack Riewoldt (quad tightness) will play in the March 7 practice match against Essendon at Punt Rd.
Daniel Jackson (groin) and Dylan Grimes (hamstring) will be eased back on Friday in a VFL practice game.
