The injection of Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia into Richmond’s midfield in season 2017 will have a valuable knock-on effect for the team, according to the Club’s Head of Player Personnel and List Management Blair Hartley.

Richmond recruited Caddy (from Geelong) and Prestia (from Gold Coast) during the AFL’s October trade period and Hartley believes the acquisition of the mature-age, midfield pair will enable the Tigers’ key on-ballers, captain Trent Cotchin and 2016 Jack Dyer Medallist Dustin Martin, to spend more time in the forward line, where they have previously shown how dangerous they can be.

“Josh is a midfielder who can go forward.  He’s one of those few players in the competition that can get 20 possessions and kick a goal a game,” Hartley said on ‘Talking Tigers’.

“Dion’s also got the ability to push forward and hit the ball inside 50.

“We looked at Dustin (Martin) and ‘Cotch’ (Trent Cotchin) . . . those guys who needed some help.

“Dustin is a pretty powerful player, and some of his best footy’s played forward of centre. 

“And, if you go back to Trent in 2012, he played some really good footy up forward.

“So bringing in Josh and Dion will help with extra midfield rotations.

“Those guys are both 24 and played 95 games, so they’ve got a lot of footy ahead of them and it’s exciting . . .”