Richmond has been dealt an early-season blow, with top-10 draftee Josh Gibcus to miss the opening rounds due to injury.

The Tigers on Thursday confirmed Gibcus would have surgery later in the day on his hamstring, which would make him “unavailable for the early rounds” of 2023.

Gibcus was helped off the training track by two Tigers trainers during a training drill on Monday.

The 19-year-old had scans and consulted with a specialist earlier this week, where it was determined he’d need surgery to repair his right upper hamstring tendon.

Gibcus, who was taken by Richmond with Pick 9 in the 2021 draft, played 18 games for the Tigers in his debut AFL season, including the elimination final loss to Brisbane.

The GWV Rebels product was impressive upon return to pre-season training last week, running the fifth-fastest time in the Tigers’ 2km time-trial at Punt Road.