Richmond has confirmed youngster Nathan Drummond will miss the rest of the 2015 season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

Drummond was playing his first AFL game on Friday night against Melbourne, when he fell awkwardly late in the second quarter and was stretchered off.

Scans today confirmed surgery was required to repair the damage to his right knee.

"This is obviously terrible news for Nathan, and the whole Club is feeling for him at the moment," said Richmond General Manager of Football, Dan Richardson.

"Nathan has worked so hard to get his opportunity to play at AFL level, and it's extremely unfortunate that he will have to wait until next year to get another opportunity.

"He is a strong character, and we expect he will be diligent with his rehab program to give him the best chance of making a return to the side in 2015."

Drummond, 20, was drafted to Richmond with pick 52 in the 2014 National Draft, after winning the Best and Fairest at Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup.

He showed strong form at VFL level this season, and was named as an emergency for the Tigers' Round 3 match against Brisbane.

He had collected five disposals and laid two tackles in his debut game against the Demons, before going down injured.

Meanwhile, Richmond key forward Ben Griffiths is expected to miss at least this week's match against Geelong with a calf strain.

Griffiths, who has kicked 7 goals in four appearances so far this season, spent most of the second half against Melbourne off the ground with the injury.