While Tom Brown understandably received huge plaudits for his outstanding, match-saving, chase-down tackle in the frenetic final moments of last Sunday’s clash with West Coast at the MCG, another member of Richmond’s class of 2021 produced the best performance of his AFL career to date.

Sam Banks, from Tasmanian club Clarence, was one of the young players taken by the Tigers with their five picks inside the top 30 in the 2021 national draft.

Banks, Richmond’s fourth pick (No. 29 overall) in that draft, was excellent in his half-back role against the Eagles, finishing the match with a game-high and AFL career-high 28 disposals, a career-high 21 uncontested possessions, career-high 25 effective disposals, equal game-high six marks, equal team-high/equal career-high five inside-50s, five rebound-50s, five score involvements and a game-high/career-high 660 metres gained.

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'We're growing as a club, we're growing as a team' - Yze

Come inside the post-match team meeting as Adem Yze addresses the boys following the win against West Coast.

He received nine votes in the AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year Award for that first-class Round 9 display.

It was the fourth time in his eight games this season that Banks has racked up 20 disposals or more, underlining the improvement he has made.

The 22-year-old, who has played 29 senior games with the Tigers, is averaging 18.1 disposals, 3.0 marks and 324.9 metres gained per match this season.