Richmond have sacked utility Daniel Connors and suspended star midfielder Dustin Martin for two matches because the pair missed a training session immediately after taking sleeping tablets.

Connors – who has a chequered off-area record – mutually agreed with the Tigers to finish his time at the AFL club right after failing to front up for the practice session on Tuesday.

He was on prescribed sleeping tablets.

A remorseful Martin, a single of Richmond’s most higher-profile gamers, admitted to drinking alcohol on Monday and taking unprescribed sleeping tablets.

Richmond’s standard manager of football Craig Cameron said Connors had made the decision to stroll away from Richmond and focus on the following phase of his life.

“We have set a regular as a football club and there is a clear expectation that our players meet that normal,” stated Cameron.

“Adhering to education specifications is not negotiable.

“Daniel has failed to meet club expectations on a number of occasions and this most current incident cannot be thought to be in isolation.

“The two the Richmond Football Club and the AFL Gamers Association have fully supported Daniel as he has worked through some well-documented troubles, and we will carry on to work with him while he focuses on his wellbeing.”

Connors played 29 senior matches for Richmond, but only two in 2012.

Martin, 21, has played 56 matches because being chosen by the Tigers with choose No.3 in the 2009 nationwide draft.

He will be suspended for the Tigers’ must-win video games against Melbourne and Gold Coast.

“Dustin understands that missing training is just unacceptable,” explained Cameron.

“We want to send a strong message that we don’t accept this type of behaviour and Dustin is now fully conscious of this.

“Far more broadly, our healthcare employees will continue to educate our complete taking part in group and emphasise that prescribed medication needs to be taken as directed, and the substantial dangers linked with not undertaking so.”

The scenario could hardly have come at a worse time for 11th-placed Richmond, who may possibly need to win as numerous as seven of their last nine matches to claim a finals berth for the 1st time in 11 years.

Midfielder Daniel Jackson will miss the next two weeks immediately after being suspended for striking Adelaide’s Chris Knights.

Tiny forward Jake King (knee) and essential defender Dylan Grimes (hamstring) each face important spells on the sidelines following becoming injured in Saturday’s loss to the Crows.

And it was revealed on Tuesday that ruck-forward Ty Vickery will undergo a shoulder reconstruction up coming week, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2012 campaign.