Tigers grind past injury-hit Suns in AFL

Richmond have done enough on the Gold Coast to beat an injury-hit Suns in their AFL match at Metricon Stadium.

Richmond never reached great heights, but did enough to beat Gold Coast in their AFL clash. (AAP)

Richmond have ground past a depleted Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium with a 33-point win to stay fourth on the AFL ladder.

Dealt a huge blow on Saturday night when Gary Ablett was a late withdrawal, the Suns also lost Ben Ainsworth, Callum Ah Chee and Alex Sexton to injury during the game.

Left with a one-man interchange, they tried their best to stay with the Tigers but were slowly left behind in an error-riddled contest, Richmond winning 14.14 (98) to 10.5 (65).

Dustin Martin controlled the contest with 34 touches, while Daniel Rioli, Toby Nankervis and Jason Castagna each kicked three goals.

The Suns leaked errors throughout but Jack Martin was among their best whenever he had his hands on the ball. Aaron Hall racked up 40 disposals and Tom Lynch battled hard for his three goals.

"We couldn't capitalise as we would have liked, but it was a really brave effort by Gold Coast down three players after halftime," Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.

"They challenged us even when down three players ... we weren't quite at our best but managed to get the job done."

Ablett woke up sore on Saturday morning, missing his fourth match in six weeks and second in succession.

Injuries to Ah Chee (shoulder, concussion) and Sexton (jaw, concussion) ended their nights before halftime. Ben Ainsworth (knee) followed soon after the break to compound coach Rodney Eade's problems.

Co-captain Steven May was another omission, but Eade hoped both he and Ablett would be fit to play Fremantle next week. Ainsworth faces at least a fortnight on the sidelines.

"We played quite smart as well to keep ourselves in the game," Eade said.

"With players out of the game and being short for manpower - although the second quarter wasn't great - but to do what they did, I was extremely proud."

In the third term, the Suns were within two goals when Lynch kicked his second, but Tigers captain Trent Cotchin steadied his side after a series of behinds.

Castagna, after missing four easier shots, then curled one through from the boundary to give the Tigers a 25-point lead on three-quarter time.

The Suns had the better of the opening exchanges, kicking three of the first four goals to lead by four points at the first break.

But Rioli, in the absence of injured Jack Riewoldt, stepped up to kick all of the Tigers' three first-quarter goals and keep the visitors close.

Richmond dominated the clearances 12-4 in the second and had 10 more contested possessions as the tide quickly turned.

Shaun Grigg reinstated the Tigers' lead almost directly from the bounce, accepting a clever centring kick from Josh Caddy to kick truly.

Caddy was then rewarded with one of his own against his former club to give the Tigers a buffer they never relinquished.