Richmond forward Mitch Morton says he holds no grudge towards coach Terry Wallace over the post-match tirade that played a significant role in sparking a week of turmoil at the AFL club.

The three-point loss to Port Adelaide last weekend, taking Richmond to a 1-7 record, and Wallace's angry response, led to a crisis meeting called by the players on Tuesday, sparking speculation Wallace was about to be sacked.

Morton was on Thursday night named in the side to play Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night, the Tigers making only two forced changes.

Morton's retention came despite Wallace reportedly accusing him of costing him his job with a poor decision in the final minute of the game.

With the Tigers three points up, Morton played on and attempted a long shot at goal, instead blasting the ball out on the full, allowing the Power to gain possession and set up skipper Warren Tredrea for the match-winning goal.

Morton confirmed Wallace had blasted him, but said he was more upset that the conversation had been leaked than about the spray itself.

"I was on the end of a conversation which takes place after every game," Morton told the Nine Network's AFL Footy Show.

"In every team there's guys every week that do things wrong in times of a game which are important.

"I made a big mistake at a time of the game which was very important and I deserve to be told I did wrong, the disappointing thing was it got out."

Morton said he and Wallace quickly patched up their differences.

"We talked two hours after the conversation and we were fine," he said.

"As a footballer you're on the end of a lot of things that are said and things are said every week behind those doors which are similar to that, which don't get out."

Morton said he did not feel a sense of responsibility for the upheaval in the days that followed, but did feel he owed the team for costing them a potential win.

"I owe the boys, I owe the footy club and I owe the fans, I'm going to have to win a game at some point," he said.

Meanwhile, former Melbourne skipper and Footy Show co-host Garry Lyon said Tigers captain Chris Newman should step down if reports were true that he had sparked Tuesday's meeting by suggesting to Wallace that he resign.

"If he's gone to Terry and said I want you to resign then he has to step down as captain of the Richmond footy club, he's got no other choice but to do that," Lyon said.

"It's an untenable working situation now for him to go about and lead that footy club."

He said Newman was a young, inexperienced captain who had shown positive leadership qualities but the current situation at Tigerland was "over his head" and no coach's departure should be player-driven.

"You'd say (as the coach) 'Son, I'm coaching this footy club, your job is to play, albeit as the leader of this footy club and I'll continue to coach unless the board of this football club tell me to resign,'" Lyon said.

"The tail doesn't wag the dog, when it starts to that's when your footy club's in a mess."

The only two changes made by the Tigers for the Bombers' clash were the forced omissions of midfielder Ben Cousins (hand) and ruckman Angus Graham (hamstring).

Defender Will Thursfield and ruckman Adam Pattison were their replacements.

Essendon added more speed to their side when they recalled Leroy Jetta, with David Myers making way.

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