As Richmond prepares for its VFL season opener against Southport on March 21, six new recruits have put pen to paper, locking them in at the Swinburne Centre for this season.
Caleb Nancarrow, Kane Loftus, Zachary O’Keefe, JayDe Varlet, Kai Stewart and James Milner have signed, rounding out the Tigers' VFL list for 2026.
Caleb Nancarrow
Young gun Caleb Nancarrow kicks off the list of recruits, standing at 191cm tall.
The former Oakleigh Chargers and Suns Academy product was a standout in last year’s Under 18s Championships.
Nancarrow is a strong young talent who was selected in the U16 All-Australian team. The now 19-year-old will look to make his mark in the yellow and black, set to be a force up forward.
Kane Loftus
Recruit Kane Loftus has hit the ground running at Tigerland, having already impressed in his two pre-season hit-outs against Coburg and Essendon.
Loftus has represented St Mary’s, Torquay and most recently University Blacks, where he won the Cordner Medal as the Best and Fairest player for 2025. His successes on the field last season also earned him Big V representation.
Tiger fans can expect to see elite run and carry from Loftus with exceptional ball use skills.
Zachary O’Keefe
Zachary O’Keefe has touched down in Tigerland after a stellar season in the Coates Talent League, representing the Gippsland Power Football Club.
O’Keefe is a crafty midfielder who had a strong 2025 campaign, where he took home the Weblease Coaches Awards for his effort with Power.
His on-field performance earned him selection in the Vic Country Squad last season, and he now brings his midfield skills to the Tigers.
JayDe Varlet
Beaconsfield speedster JayDe Varlet has also put pen to paper and is set to become a rock for Richmond’s forward/midfield line-up.
Varlet was a powerhouse for the Dandenong Stingrays last season, earning a Vic Country call-up.
Playing through the midfield, Varlet picked up 19 disposals and five inside 50s in the Stingrays' comfortable win over the Murray Bushrangers.
The 18-year-old has an athletic profile with impressive aerial and contest skills, seen in Richmond’s practice match against Coburg.
Kai Stewart
Joining straight from the Oakleigh Chargers in the Coates Talent Leagues comes small forward Kai Stewart.
Stewart won the Club’s best forward award after kicking an array of goals for the Charges in 2025.
His agility and silky ball-moving skills were on full display in the VFL’s second practice match against Essendon. He is an exciting young talent who is primed to boot some goals as a Tiger for 2026.
James Milner
Milner impressed for Richmond in its practice match against Coburg last month, and now he is set to play a role in the home-and-away season.
A Queensland product, Milner came through the Brisbane Lions Academy program, before relocating to Victoria to play for the Oakleigh Chargers in the Coates Talent League.
Milner hasn’t had a chance to fully show his potential, brutally dealt with an ACL injury last year, but now fully recovered, he is determined to make an impact for Richmond.
