Richmond’s three debutants for the Round 1 clash with Carlton at the MCG – Sam Lalor, Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong – is the equal most the Club has had in an opening round since 1993.
The Tigers also had three first-gamers in 2011, with Jake Batchelor, Reece Conca and Brad Helbig, and three in 2010 – Dustin Martin, Ben Nason and Relton Roberts.
Back in Round 1 of the 1993 season, Richmond had five debutants for its match against Adelaide at the MCG – Paul Bulluss, Wayne Hernaman, Mark Pitura, Robert Schaefer and Adam Slater.
That total of five debutants is the most the Tigers have had in an opening round for the past six decades.
In Round 1, 1990 against Brisbane at the Gabba, Richmond had four first-gamers – Sean Bowden, Brendon Gale, Chris Naish and Stephen Ryan.
And there were three other years where the Tigers had three opening-round debutants – 1991 v St Kilda, Waverley Park: Mark McQueen, Jason Smith and Scott Turner, 1988 v Melbourne. MCG: Craig Lambert, Trent Nichols, Justin Pickering, and 1978 v Carlton, MCG: John Einsiedel, Greg Strachan and Dale Weightman.
