Jasper Alger generated excitement for the Tiger Army with his display against Adelaide in the Round 16 match at the MCG.
The talented, teenage forward, recruited by Richmond with its eighth, and final, pick (No. 58 overall) in the 2024 national draft, was playing his first full game of AFL football after debuting as the ‘sub’ the previous week.
He looked comfortable at the level, kicking a team-high two goals among his 11 disposals, together with five contested disposals, four marks, three inside-50s, one goal assist, four score involvements and 168 metres gained.
There is a rich tradition at Tigerland of small goalkickers wearing the No. 29 guernsey, which has now been bequeathed to Alger.
Ron Branton, a Punt Road Hall of Famer, who won three consecutive Richmond Best and Fairest awards from 1960-62, was a two-time club leading goalkicker (1953-54) and he finished with 171 goals all-up in his 170 games for the Tigers.
Richmond ‘Immortal’ Kevin Bartlett kicked 778 goals in his club record 403 games, winning the Tigers’ leading goalkicker award four times (1974, 1975, 1977, 1983).
In more recent years, dual Richmond premiership player Shai Bolton scored 165 goals across 135 games with the Tigers, and he won the Club’s leading goalkicker award in 2024.
Alger, of course, has a long, long way to go to emulate the feats of those Tiger goalkicking stars, who wore the No. 29 guernsey.
But he does seem to possess good forward craft and goal sense. And that will give him a decent chance of having a successful career at Tigerland.