RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick said his team was hit by “the perfect storm” as the hobbled Tigers tried to stop the game at Etihad Stadium early.

The Tigers’ injury toll in the final quarter against Port Adelaide was so savage football manager Dan Richardson approached the AFL to call off the NAB Challenge match.

AFL football operations manager Mark Evans denied the ­request, telling the Tigers broadcast obligations made it impossible.

By that stage Richmond had just 15 men on the field. The AFL forced the Tigers to put two players back on the field.

“It was the perfect storm with ­regards to injuries early and every time you looked up another player was coming off,’’ Hardwick said.

“From my point of view I am here to put our best side forward for Round 1. I am not here to win NAB 3.

media_camera Jacob Townsend was concussed after a heavy collision. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“It was making sure our players hasn’t had a rotation for a quarter, so we said let’s get them off. We did (try to call off the game). My main priority is to get a fit and fired-up Richmond side for Round 1, not to win a practice match.”

Richmond faces Carlton in the season-opener on March 24.

The Tigers fear veteran midfielder Shaun Grigg fractured his thumb and half-forward Shane Edwards could have a cracked collarbone.

Reece Conca has again badly damaged his hamstring and Greater Western Sydney recruit Jacob Townsend was concussed after a collision.

Player Injury Shane Edwards Shoulder Reece Conca Hamstring Shaun Grigg Thumb Jacob Townsend Concussion

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley believes three preseason matches is too many, and said Damien Hardwick could be forgiven for how things played out last night.

“Personally, I believe three is too many. You don’t need three to get ready,” he said on SEN today.

“You play so much match simulation football now. The thing you can’t do is game style against game style – can it stand up? If you’ve got it wrong by the end of February or March, it’s not fixable.

“If I’ve got 17 or 18 fit players, I’d be out there on the ground with them and saying ‘OK, this is not ideal’, but just hang in there, play the game out, control yourself a little bit more than you would normally do, but just purely from outside and looking at the game, I think you’d probably like to leave the numbers there.

media_camera Reece Conca reacts after damaging his hamstring. Picture:Wayne Ludbey

“But there’s a coach that’s just had a midfielder, and outside mid (injured) … hamstring, concussion. He’s just sitting there going “I just need to get out of this”.”

To salt the wound, the Tigers were smashed by 48 points and could manage only five goals, 14 days before their Round 1 clash with Carlton.

Richardson said Evans had made it clear he could not call the game off, given contractual requirements.

“We were just trying to look after our players, we had an ordinary night with injuries and we wanted to bring a few off the ground.

media_camera Shane Edwards may have a broken collarbone. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“Understandably, the AFL were concerned about that and there are issues with broadcasters.”

Hardwick said Corey Ellis and Anthony Miles would return next week.

Chris Yarran got through a VFL intra-club game on Thursday and has a senior intra-club outing against Geelong to push his Round 1 claims.

jon.ralph@news.com.au

Originally published as Bruised Tigers tried to call off game