Richmond has added two tough Tigers to its VFLW ranks, signing Lauren Tesoriero and Kate Dempsey.

Tesoriero joins the Club from Collingwood, where she has played at the top level for the past two seasons. 

With the VFLW season set to kick off against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, May 5, she hopes her 10 years' of football experience will be a valuable addition to the Club's new program. 

“Hopefully I can bring a bit of experience and leadership to the group,” Tesoriero said.

“There’s a lot of young girls and new players to football in general, so I’m happy to help out on field in that way.”

Tesoriero has been playing football for 10 years, slowly making her way up the ranks. 

“I was always the boundary umpire at my local club, watching my brothers play,” she said. 

“Then someone started up a team locally and I was a bit hesitant, but I just went down and had a crack and loved it.”

Tesoriero played at representative level for the Mount Evelyn Netball Club, and later for North East Blaze in the Victorian Netball League.

Eventually she was forced to choose between the sports. 

Joking she's had more comeback's than Australian singer John Farnham, football eventually won out. 

“I didn’t even consider (playing AFLW when I was younger) because it wasn’t a thing,” she said. 

“I just played netball growing up and enjoyed football but I never even thought about (playing it at an elite level)

"I fell out of love with footy a bit and was playing a higher level of netball, so I kind of had to choose at one stage."

Now football is her passion. Her toughness and ability to get her hands on the ball is what landed her at Collingwood with pick No. 107 in the inaugural AFLW National Draft. 

Tesoriero has played 11 matches for the Pies, before she came out of contract at the end of the 2018 season. 

Richmond's AFLW Football Operations Manager Kate Sheahan said the Club had struck gold in listing the former AFLW player. 

"We want to do everything in our power to develop Lauren and make her an even better footballer, but more importantly get her back into the AFLW system” Sheahan said. 

“Her obvious strength is winning the ball in a contest and her decision making under pressure, but just as valuable is her footy brain. It's like having an extra coach out on the ground. 

“She understands there are areas to work on and she’s already shown great commitment in helping develop our culture and program.”

It was a different journey for Dempsey, who at 23-years old, has played competitive football for the past four years. 

A self-confessed 'fitness junkie', she loves the competitive nature of the game.

“I like to play sports where you feel pretty wrecked afterwards and there’s no sport like that other than footy,” Dempsey said.

“Other than that the team thing, it‘s so different to any other sport.

“You make really good mates, rather than just people you show up with once a week. They’re people that care about you and that’s really important.

Dempsey loves to run. And her and enthusiasm and passion for the game is evident.

Kicking is one of her greatest strengths, and while height isn't, she knows how to play to her strengths. 

“I’m clearly not a ruck because I’m about 4 foot 2,” she said, smiling.

“I like playing on the wing because it gives me a bit of space to run around. I like running a lot.”

She has played at several other clubs, but clearly feels at home at Richmond.

“It’s the first place I’ve played where you want to come to training,” she said.

“You have Uni and work and those things you have to get up and do every day, but this is somewhere you want to come to and you want to be around.

“The learning is ridiculous. It’s not just get out there and run around, we’re really learning as we go about the game which is really special as well.”

Sheahan sees great potential in Dempsey. 

"Kate reminds me of a bit of Scott Pendlebury, where she always seems to have time and makes great choices," Sheahan said.

"She's a beautiful kick. She has lots of development ahead of her, but her approach so far indicates she is tracking beautifully. 

"The test will come when she starts to play against AFLW players and we can't wait to see how she takes that challenge on."