With suspended Reece Conca joining Ty Vickery on the sidelines Richmond will be out to make amends for their worst AFL game of the year when they face Essendon on Friday night.

Midfielder Conca accepted a two-game ban from the Match Review Panel for his “brain fade” after clipping young Giant Devon Smith with an elbow to the back of the head.

Vickery was earlier rubbed out for four weeks for striking West Coast veteran Dean Cox.

Tigers defender Troy Chaplin said the loss of the two was a blow with their finals hopes on life support.

Currently 12th, Richmond take on the seventh-placed Bombers in a blockbuster at the MCG.

The Tigers were dismal in their round 11 meeting with the Bombers booting the opening four goals while they were held goalless in the first quarter.

They limped home in an embarrassing 50-point loss but Chaplin said they were now an improved team.

“The last time we played Essendon was a disappointing game; probably one of our worst games of the year in reflection,” said Chaplin on Tuesday.

“Within the first five or 10 minutes it was literally all over.

“Now we’ve got some momentum and and we’ve got that little glimmer of hope and hopefully we continue that.”

While the Tigers are riding high on the back of five successive wins, including last round’s 27-point win over GWS, Chaplin admitted the suspension of the Conca and Vickery had taken some of the gloss off.

“We’re a better side with those two guys in our team and our discipline the other night, giving away a couple of 50s as well, was very disappointing.”

“It’s hurting us on the field so it’s something we need to get better at.”

Chaplin said even Conca’s teammates were surprised by his uncharacteristic act of thuggery,

“He’s certainly not that sort of character to the people who know him.

“It was a bit of a brain fade and it caught a lot of players by surprise because Reece doesn’t have that in him and he’s got to wear it now and cop the punishment.”