Richmond have been dealt a double blow in the first half of Thursday night’s blockbuster against Carlton.
Star midfielder Dion Prestia was subbed out with a hamstring injury at quarter-time before the sold out MCG fell silent during the second term when young gun Josh Gibcus was stretchered off with a knee injury.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Gibcus stretched off with suspected serious knee injury.
Stream analysis, local footy and the biggest moments free on 7plus 
Gibcus landed awkwardly in a marking contest and immediately clutched at his right knee in what looked like a dreaded ACL tear.
Played was immediately stopped while he was assessed by medical staff and then eventually taken from the field on a stretcher.
“This could be a bit of a tragedy,” Matthew Richardson said on Channel 7. “It doesn’t look great.”
Boundary rider Abbey Holmes added: “Just down here at ground level there was a massive yelp straight away from (Gibcus) and he just grabbed at that right knee straight away.”
The club at half-time confirmed it’s a suspected ACL injury.
It continues a horror run for Gibcus, who missed all of the 2023 season with a hamstring injury.
Earlier, Prestia suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter and was replaced by Rhyan Mansell at the first break.
The injury will likely see the 31-year-old miss the next three to four weeks at a minimum.
“We’ve just received confirmation from the footy club that he’s done a hammy,” Channel 7 boundary rider Abbey Holmes said.
“We know Dion has had a history with soft tissue injuries and to do this so early in the season is shattering.
“His history is quite strong with soft tissue, hopefully it’s not a bad one.
Richmond great Matthew Richardson added: “Since he won the best and fairest in 2019, every year has been some hamstring issues. So it’s more bad luck for Dion.”
Prestia suffered a hamstring injury during the pre-season, but played in last week’s season-opening loss to Gold Coast.
He has dealt with numerous leg injuries in his career, struck down by knee troubles when he played for the Suns and ankle surgery in 2020.
Soft-tissue injuries began to strike in 2021 when a hamstring problem was made worse by a calf issue and he was restricted to just nine games for the season.
Further hamstring and calf struggles troubled Prestia in 2022 and 2023, but he managed to play 39 games across the two years.
The triple premiership player is out of contract at the end of the season.
More to come
