![](https://images.bigfootymedia.com/icons/mobile-bullets/richmond.png)
- Dec 5, 2012
- 13,716
- 37,220
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- Knicks, Giants
I wonder if there will be a 2nd episode to that draftee doco.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
PLUS Your club board comp is now up!
Weekly Prize - Join Any Time - Tip Round 0
The Golden Ticket - MCG and Marvel Medallion Club tickets and Corporate Box tickets at the Gabba, MCG and Marvel.
PLUS Your club board comp is now up!
lmaooooo"Jacob Koschitzke is looming as the defensive cover Richmond sorely requires in the wake of key absences that will stretch into the first portion of the season.
The positional switch-up from forward to defence has been in the works since before Christmas but the experiment could pay off early for the Tigers, with Koschitzke in full defensive mode at Punt Road on Wednesday morning as the team desperately looks to a key pillar in the absence of Noah Balta (suspended) and Josh Gibcus as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury.
Gibcus was on Tuesday ruled out of at least the early rounds of the season, while Balta will miss at least the first four games of the season after he was charged by police with assault earlier this month.
Koschitzke has played 62 games — including 48 for Hawthorn before joining Richmond at the end of 2023 — and kicked 66 goals but was originally drafted as a fullback.
As many as six untried Tigers could make the trip to Perth in a fortnight where the team will face West Coast on February 17.
Draftee Luke Trainor could line up alongside Koschitzke in defence, while Thomas Sims — who was taken at pick 28 — featured at full-forward in a number of drills at Punt Road on Wednesday morning, working in cohesion with premiership forward Tom Lynch who is at full fitness.
Big-bodied midfielder Sam Lalor remains firmly in the frame to play in Round 1 but completed some work indoors due to management with heavy match simulation sessions to bookend the week on Monday and Wednesday, while ballwinning counterpart Dion Prestia also completed only 45 minutes of the two-hour session on the ground before heading inside.
Fellow midfielder Josh Smillie suffered a minor hamstring injury earlier this week but could still face the Eagles, while initial fears that Jasper Alger had suffered a knee injury this week were allayed when it was discovered to be a hyperextension.
Forwards Jonty Faull and Harry Armstrong are also considered chances to feature in the coming weeks.
Former Tigers Jack Graham and Liam Baker are both now Eagles, though the latter was forced from the training track on Wednesday after appearing to injure his ankle in an awkward landing, leaving questions as to whether he will take on his former side.
Ruck Samson Ryan played as a key forward throughout Wednesday morning’s session, while Kamdyn McIntosh wore a “no contact” hat for the entire session."
Based on his performance in the SA Under 17's futures which I'll show in the highlights tonight, I'd be shocked if Kellaway isn't in the Champs games this year in the Under 18's, still a bit to play out though obviously.It’s good to have the extra interest of following these kids, during our rebuild, so thanks for posting this.
Maybe we’ll get an opportunity to watch Kellaway and Leys ( as a bottom ager) playing for SA in the Nationals this year.
Based on his performance in the SA Under 17's futures which I'll show in the highlights tonight, I'd be shocked if Kellaway isn't in the Champs games this year in the Under 18's, still a bit to play out though obviously.
Leys will be a good chance to to play some type of rep footy as well. I think at a absolute minimum we should see him in the SA future Under 17s game this year. I have highlights of his under 16's games from last year coming out next week as well.
I will do my best to try and keep getting footage of both of them during the year to track them.
It is definitely an exciting time seeing a few players come through the ranks!
The other one is Cody Walker who is a NGA Academy prospect for 2026 however he is also tied to Carlton as a father son pick.
I have heard that Blair Hartley and Rhy Gieschen are putting in some work to try and convince him to come to us, but it's definitely a long shot unfortunately.
It's a house of cards, built on bad hands and a bunch of new chips, and we are surrounded by the big bad wolf pack.when do we start the new rebuild ?
False. Blighty is going to shut him out and some spud like fantasia will kick 4.charlie cornroll will kick 7 on kozi
He retired 9 years ago, have you lost track of time with no sunlight in the dungeon?wtf
his old man just retired not long ago
what he do have him at 14?
Kellaway has been developing really nicely and putting runs on the board.forgot about leys, are the rest showing any signs of being "top talent" or do they simply exist?
Pretty sure Charlie's brother sang for audioslavecharlie cornroll will kick 7 on kozi
does he still wear a hatHe retired 9 years ago, have you lost track of time with no sunlight in the dungeon?
Jokes aside, Walker is 39 this year, so would have been 23/24ish.
I think its:-So Kellaway is eligible this year, Leys and Armstrong next year. Is that right?
I heard he wore one when Cody was conceived.does he still wear a hat
Yep this.I think its:-
Kellaway - 2025 draft
Leys - 2026 draft
Armstrong - 2026 draft
Bowden - 2027 draft
Daffy - 2027 draft
we have a half back flank ready for him. just needs to loose 15 kiloYep this.
On Daffy, I did have some footage sent to me of him doing some training drills and he looks good!
The below is what Nick had to say on Archie:
-Made the main squad at the Falcons 18's as a underage
-Came 2nd in the 2km time trial, his recorded time would have been top 5 at RFC this pre season
-Still growing and looking strong
Making the main 18s squad as a underage is huge, hopefully we see a bit more of him this year now!
Type of thing richoplzbreed has been banging crying out for for a whileMykelti Lefau, Josh Gibcus, Tylar Young, Taj Hotton and Judson Clarke off to Samoa
Richmond were decimated by injury in 2024, particularly knee complaints. Now, Richmond’s “ACL quintet” are taking the next step in their road back to the top level.
Lauren Wood
follow
@LaurenHeraldSun
Richmond’s “ACL quintet” will jet off to Samoa on Saturday with Tigers forward Mykelti Lefau to connect with the sites of his family roots for the very first time.
Lefau, Josh Gibcus, Tylar Young, Taj Hotton and Judson Clarke — who is the closest of the five who suffered the knee injury in 2024 to returning to play — will travel to the Pacific country, with an eye to both discovering more about Lefau’s Samoan heritage and further developing football in the Polynesian islands.
The 26-year-old was born in New Zealand with his father from Samoa, and will travel to the village his grandparents call home for the very first time on the five-day trip — his first to the island nation.
![]()
Mykelti Lefau was a bright spot before going down with injury. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
“Mykelti is very proud of his Samoan heritage,” Tigers chief executive Shane Dunne said.
“The traditional celebration his family and friends put on for him in our changerooms at the MCG before his debut was a great example of how he carries his heritage and what it means to him.
“For him to now be able to return to his family’s village while wearing the Richmond logo will be a proud moment for him, but also for our club.”
Lefau’s family members delivered a haka to the Tiger upon his debut game in 2024 which he described at the time as “pretty special”.
His grandmother on his father’s side is from Nofoali’i, a village on the Samoan island of Upolu, and his grandfather Falelatai on the same island.
“I’d never really had an opportunity to show my culture before, and doing it in the AFL … I had no hesitation to do it,” Lefau said last year.
“I think it’s very important to see a future with Pacific islanders playing AFL. It’s sort of an untapped area of talent.
“That’s my dream — to make sure we have young kids from islands to have an opportunity to play a sport that they’ve never even heard of.”
![]()
The Tigers were ravaged by knee injuries in 2024. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Lefau suffered his ACL injury in May and with his four fellow injured Tigers is expected to be given a full 12 months to recover.
Clarke, 21, has progressed slightly ahead of the five and took part in most match drills at Punt Road Oval on Wednesday morning.
The upcoming Pacific trip will also include visits to sporting organisations and the opportunity for locals interested in learning more about AFL coaching.
“AFL is for everyone,” Dunne said.
“And Richmond embodies that. It’s powerful that our players can engage with the Samoan community actively — and who knows, they might inspire some local talent to consider the sport as a potential option.”
gibcus needs to try a season without the pisstake moMykelti Lefau, Josh Gibcus, Tylar Young, Taj Hotton and Judson Clarke off to Samoa
Richmond were decimated by injury in 2024, particularly knee complaints. Now, Richmond’s “ACL quintet” are taking the next step in their road back to the top level.
Lauren Wood
follow
@LaurenHeraldSun
Richmond’s “ACL quintet” will jet off to Samoa on Saturday with Tigers forward Mykelti Lefau to connect with the sites of his family roots for the very first time.
Lefau, Josh Gibcus, Tylar Young, Taj Hotton and Judson Clarke — who is the closest of the five who suffered the knee injury in 2024 to returning to play — will travel to the Pacific country, with an eye to both discovering more about Lefau’s Samoan heritage and further developing football in the Polynesian islands.
The 26-year-old was born in New Zealand with his father from Samoa, and will travel to the village his grandparents call home for the very first time on the five-day trip — his first to the island nation.
![]()
Mykelti Lefau was a bright spot before going down with injury. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
“Mykelti is very proud of his Samoan heritage,” Tigers chief executive Shane Dunne said.
“The traditional celebration his family and friends put on for him in our changerooms at the MCG before his debut was a great example of how he carries his heritage and what it means to him.
“For him to now be able to return to his family’s village while wearing the Richmond logo will be a proud moment for him, but also for our club.”
Lefau’s family members delivered a haka to the Tiger upon his debut game in 2024 which he described at the time as “pretty special”.
His grandmother on his father’s side is from Nofoali’i, a village on the Samoan island of Upolu, and his grandfather Falelatai on the same island.
“I’d never really had an opportunity to show my culture before, and doing it in the AFL … I had no hesitation to do it,” Lefau said last year.
“I think it’s very important to see a future with Pacific islanders playing AFL. It’s sort of an untapped area of talent.
“That’s my dream — to make sure we have young kids from islands to have an opportunity to play a sport that they’ve never even heard of.”
![]()
The Tigers were ravaged by knee injuries in 2024. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Lefau suffered his ACL injury in May and with his four fellow injured Tigers is expected to be given a full 12 months to recover.
Clarke, 21, has progressed slightly ahead of the five and took part in most match drills at Punt Road Oval on Wednesday morning.
The upcoming Pacific trip will also include visits to sporting organisations and the opportunity for locals interested in learning more about AFL coaching.
“AFL is for everyone,” Dunne said.
“And Richmond embodies that. It’s powerful that our players can engage with the Samoan community actively — and who knows, they might inspire some local talent to consider the sport as a potential option.”
lord help uslmaooooo
Based on his performance in the SA Under 17's futures which I'll show in the highlights tonight, I'd be shocked if Kellaway isn't in the Champs games this year in the Under 18's, still a bit to play out though obviously.
Leys will be a good chance to to play some type of rep footy as well. I think at a absolute minimum we should see him in the SA future Under 17s game this year. I have highlights of his under 16's games from last year coming out next week as well.
I will do my best to try and keep getting footage of both of them during the year to track them.
It is definitely an exciting time seeing a few players come through the ranks!
The other one is Cody Walker who is a NGA Academy prospect for 2026 however he is also tied to Carlton as a father son pick.
I have heard that Blair Hartley and Rhy Gieschen are putting in some work to try and convince him to come to us, but it's definitely a long shot unfortunately.
Lynch dismantling Scotty’s cats in 2019 was enough to justify every single dollar we’ve given himLynch owes us a Coleman
Dow is basically proven not up to being a first choice AFL midfielder & cannot play any other position. You are not making allowances for his development at selection.
McAuliffe was miles off having an AFL midfield tank in 2024. Unless that is fixed in one interrupted off-season(it won't be) if he plays major midfield minutes at AFL level, our midfield will not function in a way that allows the rest of the team to function properly.
Sonsie and Ross(& Dow) are probably the exact reason McIntosh is being trained for this role. They are weak defensively. Based on what we have seen from them previously, you put any of them in the midfield for major minutes, it starts leaking.
A couple of the new draftees look like they might be the damage in there but are first year of course, and will only benefit from having big bodies around them.
Regardless of our expectations for the season, we still want the team functioning well, and especially the midfield. If McIntosh(or anyone else) can play a role in there better than the also rans, and it allows the team to function better overall, then get him in there.
I don't agree with the thinking that says you banish guys from the list because you are frightened the selectors will see them as the best available option at some point. This is an argument FOR keeping someone on the list. If the role breathes new life into McIntosh's career, we should be all for it. It is not going to cost the next Cotchin or Martin midfild minutes, those types will always take priority. If it costs the next Anthony Miles or Collier-Dawkins midfield minutes, then who cares?
wouldnt it be hilarious if all our spuds who reached 100 had gun offsprings while roach, bourke , etc were spuds