Richmond coach Adem Yze has paid tribute to "tough bugger" Tom Lynch after the veteran forward played through pain to be a key contributor in the 18-point win over Essendon.
Lynch hurt his throat and was one of three players taken to hospital with injuries sustained in the annual 'Dreamtime At The 'G' contest at the MCG on Friday night.
Bombers pair Andrew McGrath (broken jaw) and Archie May (ribs) were also sent to hospital after a brutal affair between the two lowest-ranked teams on the ladder.
Lynch was hurt before halftime but played on a finished with two goals, including a crucial steadier in the final quarter of the Tigers' 10.14 (74) to 7.14 (56) victory.
The result lifted Richmond (2-9) off the bottom of the ladder and was a fitting way to celebrate premiership star Jayden Short's 200th game.
"He's a tough bugger and he's a leader of our footy club for a reason," Yze said of Lynch post-match.
"At halftime we thought he was going to hospital but he didn't want to - he wanted to play for Shorty.
"He couldn't talk. He's hurt his throat, so we don't know how bad that is."
Yze said the main concern was around Lynch's voice - or lack thereof - and there was no chance of the key forward doing further damage to his throat by playing on.
"It's funny, he's the godfather of our forward line and we need him to talk and lead, so we put it on our younger forwards to shoulder that load," Yze said.
"He wasn't able to do that for the rest of the game, but his contest and aerial power tonight was exactly what we needed.
"He got through the game and now he's just gone to hospital for scans as a precaution. I'm really proud of his effort."
Fellow Richmond tall forward Jonty Faull was another casualty with concussion, adding to the club's lengthy injury list.
"We thought he was going to hospital at half-time, he didn't want to, he wanted to play for Shorty."
— AFL (@AFL) May 22, 2026
Adem Yze provides an update on Tom Lynch#AFLTigersDonz pic.twitter.com/zVx2WjtRfi
Essendon were hit even harder on Friday night, losing Sam Durham (concussion) and Matt Guelfi (hamstring) in the opening stages, and McGrath in the second term.
Jye Caldwell played through a leg syndesmosis injury and May went off late.
"You can't shy away from the fact that Essendon had three really good players that are off the field before halftime," Yze said.
"It just puts so much pressure and load onto the rest of their crew, so you feel for who you were up against.
"But at the same time we had a job to do and I'm really proud of the boys."
Richmond had 18 players on a league-worst injury list this week but expect some troops back in the near future.
Dion Prestia, Sam Banks and Maurice Rioli are all nearing fitness, while Yze said four AFL-listed players will feature in the Tigers' VFL side on the weekend.
A difficult assignment looms against ladder-leading Sydney at the SCG in round 12 as Richmond chase consecutive wins for the first time this season.
