Mature-age forward Tim Smith remains in hospital with a punctured lung and ruckman Jake Spencer faces shoulder surgery, as the Demons deal with the fall-out of a third-straight defeat.
The loss of Spencer compounds the Demons' ruck woes, with frontline bigman Max Gawn sidelined for three months because of hamstring surgery.
There was some good news from the Anzac Eve loss to Richmond. Midfield bull Christian Petracca, who hurt his knee in the opening minutes and went off but later returned, has been cleared of structural damage and will be monitored through the week.
Smith, in his second senior match, having been elevated from the rookie list, was hurt in a marking contest and taken to hospital.
Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said on Tuesday that Smith would continue to be assessed.
"Tim was taken to hospital at half-time ... after a knee to the ribs. Investigations have shown a fractured rib and punctured lung. He will stay in hospital over the next few days," he said.
Mahoney said Spencer was likely to have surgery on his AC joint. This would mean he faces about six weeks on the sidelines.
"He had scans today which showed damage to the AC joint. He will consult a surgeon [on Wednesday] with the most likely option being surgery later in the week," he said.
Coach Simon Goodwin had said he expected Petracca to be available to face Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, but it's likely he will need to pass a fitness test.
"He will be monitored during the week," Mahoney said.
The undersized Jack Watts and Sam Frost replaced Spencer in the ruck against the Tigers and battled manfully but managed a combined 14 hit outs against Toby Nankervis (56 hitouts).
The Demons will have to weigh up whether to turn to Mitch King, one game back from a knee reconstruction, or Cam Pederson, the former North Melbourne tall, to replace Spencer.
Goodwin said the Demons would have to be "adventurous" in the ruck.
"As a coaching group we've always said that we want to be adventurous and we might just have to be that now. We've lost a few soldiers in Max and Jake, potentially, so we'll have to think a little bit laterally and come up with a plan this week that's going to work for the footy club," he said.
The Demons, overrun in the final term by the Tigers, will welcome back veteran midfielder Jordan Lewis from a three-match suspension.
There was also financial pain for two of the Demons' leaders, with co-captains Jack Viney and Nathan Jones fined for their role in the third-quarter melee. Each was charged with a third offence in a melee, meaning they can accept a $2500 fine with an early plea.
The melee was sparked by Trent Cotchin's tackle on Viney. Cotchin ($1500) and fellow Tiger Jack Riewoldt ($2500) were also fined and can accept an early plea.
