Richmond star Dustin Martin is in double trouble, facing a two-game ban and also having to answer a please explain from the AFL.
Martin was banned for his elbow on Adam Kennedy and also separately fined $1,500 for striking tagger Matt de Boer.
The ban makes Martin ineligible for the Brownlow Medal, which he won two years ago, and puts him out of action for Richmond's games against Port and Sydney.
The Tigers have until late Tuesday morning to take Martin's two-game striking ban to the tribunal, knowing that contesting the case will not risk a more severe suspension for their player.
Meanwhile, the AFL want Martin to explain a couple of incidents, where he flipped the bird to an opponent, imitated snorting drugs and hurled an abusive comment.
It is understood the snorting sledge and the abuse was directed towards Shane Mumford, who was suspended for the opening two games this season after a video emerged of him snorting white powder.
Richmond also confirmed on Monday that captain Trent Cotchin is sidelined with a hamstring injury for a couple of games.
Therefore if Martin's ban holds, he will join Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance on the sidelines, meaning next Saturday's away game against Port Adelaide will be the first time Richmond do not have any of their four top players available since Martin made his debut in round one of the 2010 season.
In more bad news for Richmond, defender Jayden Short suffered a right dislocated elbow and will be out of action for eight weeks or more.
Short ruptured ligaments and was to visit a surgeon on Monday to figure out what to do next.
"We're obviously disappointed to lose Trent and Jayden to injury for a period of time," Tigers football boss Neil Balme said.
"Fortunately, we expect to bolster the team with some players to return from injuries, as well as Dylan Grimes being available for selection."
Richmond have lost Rance for the rest of the season with a knee reconstruction, while Riewoldt has a wrist injury.
The four stars had previously enjoyed a dream run with injuries - until Rance went down in round one; all of them had played at least 20 games per season since 2015.
