Whitefoord is a small rural town in the heart of Tasmania. And, when I say small, I mean extremely small.

The entire population of Whitefoord is just 59 people (according to the 2016 Australian census).

So, what’s with the geography lesson you may be wondering?

Well, Whitefoord has a particularly special link to Tigerland.

Richmond’s four-time premiership hero, former champion centre half-forward and Club ‘Immortal’ Royce Hart grew up in Whitefoord before capturing the attention of the Tiger talent scouts playing under 19s football with Hobart club Clarence.

Hart famously signed with Richmond for a suit plus six shirts, moved over to the mainland, and the rest is glorious Yellow and Black history.

All these years on, another ‘Whitefoordite’ is about to ply his football trade with the Tigers.

Sam Banks, one of those 59 people residing in Whitefoord, was recruited by Richmond with its fourth pick (No. 29 overall) in the 2021 AFL national draft.

The talented Tassie teenager, a skilful, hard running, elite intercepting half-back/wingman, is quite a different player to the great Royce Hart.

Interestingly, however, they are the same height – 187cm.

Banks, like Hart, also played for Clarence, although he transitioned to senior ranks there, just like another current-day Tiger in triple premiership star key forward Jack Riewoldt.

They are mighty big footsteps for Banks to follow in at Punt Road, but Hart and Riewoldt, along with Whitefoord’s whole population and the Tiger Army, will keenly monitor his progress.