THE RAMIFICATIONS for Ivan Soldo's long-term knee injury reach further than just Richmond's finals chances.

The Tigers ruckman, who featured in last year's flag win, will undergo surgery after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and medial ligament (watch the incident below) last Friday night against Geelong, which will likely rule him out of all of the 2021 season.

That has repercussions for the Tigers but also the trade market's ruck merry-go-round, which has already been clicking into gear ahead of this year's exchange period.

Toby Nankervis will now shoulder the Tigers' ruck hopes for the rest of this season but he remains out of contract beyond 2020. Other clubs had viewed the two-time premiership ruckman as a target given Soldo's rise to prominence, but Nankervis looms as an important re-signing now given his teammate's injury setback.

WANTED Big bloke, excellent leap, wins hitouts, gets a kick

It also shines a closer light on what the Tigers do with Callum Coleman-Jones.

Coach Damien Hardwick last week couldn't guarantee the promising youngster's future lay at the club after his COVID-19 breach on the Gold Coast, but he is an athletic ruck who can move around the ground well.

He caught the attention of Greater Western Sydney last year, and Adelaide has also been linked to him, but he is contracted to Tigerland until the end of next year.

If Nankervis remains with the yellow and black, Coleman-Jones (after serving his 10-game suspension) would be his back-up next year given Soldo's absence.

The ripple effect of one ugly twist of Soldo's left knee can be felt across the competition. For clubs who were eyeing one of the Richmond ruck pair, will they now look in other directions?

There are a few to pursue. Peter Ladhams has had his own COVID-19 protocol problems, but the Port Adelaide youngster has shown his talents this season as a ruckman who can also impact in attack.

He's contracted to the end of 2022 with the club, but sits behind Scott Lycett (who is contracted until the end of 2023) in the pecking order for the top-of-the-table Power.

Braydon Preuss is another who will be assessed by clubs searching for more ruck power. He still has two years to go on his deal with Melbourne, but with the Demons having recruited and anointed Luke Jackson as Max Gawn's long-term successor, Preuss would offer a ready-to-play option for rivals.

Then there are the younger breed who have less exposed form but have several years of development under the belts.

Behind Lycett and Ladhams at Port Adelaide is Sam Hayes, a talented junior who slipped down the draft order but has had some interest throughout this season given he has had three years developing in the system.

The Power are unlikely to let him go, the same for West Coast with exciting tall Bailey Williams, but the interest still remains. Clubs have also been keeping an eye on Collingwood ruckman Max Lynch, who debuted recently after four years at the Magpies as an understudy to Brodie Grundy.

Last year there was eight ruckmen change clubs through the off-season period as list management teams continue to identify players who are ready to impact.