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Richmond will sweat on the AFL match review findings after star onballer Dustin Martin had a game to forget in the loss to GWS.

Dustin Martin's dirty day could have costly repercussions for Richmond, with the Tigers to sweat on the AFL match review findings.

The midfield ace is certain to come under scrutiny for an off-the-ball hit, apparently on GWS opponent Adam Kennedy, in the second term of Saturday's 49-point loss.

Martin had a day to forget, with Giants tagger Matt de Boer restricting him to just 15 disposals.

It is the ball magnet's lowest possession count in a game since the start of the 2015 season.

The off-the-ball contact cost the Tigers a free kick and a goal.

Martin made his frustrations clear in the match, at one stage flipping the bird to a GWS opponent.

In another sledge, he made a cocaine-related gesture.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was unimpressed with the opposition tactics on Martin and revealed post-match that he had approached the emergency umpires.

"I didn't get a response," Hardwick said.

"Why do you reckon he might give away that free kick?

"At the end of the day, blokes come to watch the No.4 play. Let the bloke play the game. Protect the ball carrier is what I'm saying."

It's been a rough season so far for Richmond's Big Four, with defender Alex Rance needing a knee reconstruction after round one.

A wrist injury in round two sidelined Jack Riewoldt for several weeks and captain Trent Cotchin suffered a hamstring injury against the Giants.

Now Martin could be in match review trouble ahead of next Saturday's away match against Port Adelaide, with Richmond 1-2 and Hardwick admitting after the Giants loss that he is worried about their early season form.