Tigers youngster Tom Sims has gone down with a suspected ACL blow in the VFL in “devastating scenes” to continue Richmond’s injury nightmare.

Sims slipped and landed awkwardly as both legs went outwards in an innocuous incident late in the second quarter of the Tigers’ VFL clash with Essendon on Saturday.

The 20-year old, playing in his first game in 286 days after a brutal injury run, was left distraught in tears on the ground as play had to be stopped while a stretcher came out.

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Sims was eventually helped from the ground by trainers while being consoled by teammates.

Richmond coach Adem Yze said on SEN the initial fears are an ACL injury as they await the results of scans.

Tom Sims went down with a knee injury.Source: FOX SPORTS

“Unfortunately it’s not looking good,” Yze said.

“The VFL doctors had a look in it and the initial diagnosis might be an ACL.

“He’s obviously gone through a fair bit over the pre-season. So they are the highs and lows of footy. We had a great win last night and then he obviously gets some devastating news today. So our thoughts are with him.”

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Yze watched on from the stands at Windy Hill to sour the AFL side’s second win for the season in the Dreamtime at the ‘G match some 12 hours earlier.

“He’s in a lot of pain, that is not good. He’s in a lot of distress,” Fox Footy caller Ben Waterworth said.

“Devastating scenes.

“Considering the number of injury setbacks this Richmond list has had this year. Specifically Tom Sims, who’s had to wait a long time to get back on the field, managed minutes today.

“Shocking scenes here for the Richmond footy club.”

The former Pick 28 played 11 games in his debut 2025 season that was cut short due to a shoulder dislocation, before a foot issue kept the forward sidelined throughout the pre-season.

Tom Lynch (larynx) and Jonty Faull (concussion) added to Richmond’s injury woes on Thursday night ahead of next Saturday’s SCG clash with Sydney.

The Tigers had 18 payers in their casualty ward going into Round 11, with concerns at one stage they might struggle to field a team.