Richmond great Matthew Richardson has lauded the Club’s decision to secure the services of former Brisbane livewire small forward Todd Banfield.

The Tigers took Banfield, who played 53 games and kicked 57 goals for the Lions, with their first pick in the recent AFL Rookie Draft.

Richardson believes the 183cm, 83kg, 23-year-old can fill an important role in Richmond’s attack.

“He played some good games at Brisbane . . . I like him in the forward 50,” Richardson said on the Club’s official podcast,‘Talking Tigers’.

“Those sort of players are crucial now.  You have to have those guys inside your forward 50, who can get up the ground and come back.

“Every gun team has two or three of those little ‘fellas’ inside forward 50.  Look at Fremantle, look at Geelong . . . you need them.

“I think one area where we can get better is in the crumbing and small forward area.

“Nothing against ‘Kingy’ (Jake King) and Shane Edwards, who played that role really well, but it’s good to beef up that area, because they (quick, defensive-minded small forwards) are so important now.”

‘Richo’ also gave a big thumbs up to Richmond’s off-season recruitment of former Carlton ruckman/forward Shaun Hampson.

“We know he can mark the ball deep forward . . . he can take a massive contested mark, and he’s a massive unit,” Richardson said.

“I think he’s a great addition.”