With Richmond's VFL season kicking off this Saturday at Kinetic Stadium against last year’s runners-up Southport, here are five things to watch out for in 2026, as a Richmond VFL fan.
Click here to see the 2026 VFL playing list and click here for player bios.
Exciting new signings
After falling short in the elimination final last season, the Tigers have bolstered their squad, adding plenty of former AFL talent to their list in 2026.
Among the biggest signings for Richmond are Leo Connolly, Olli Hotton and Sam Philp, with all three players set to play key roles, adding a vast array of skill sets to the team.
Connolly was on St Kilda’s AFL list for four seasons and will add beautiful ball use, speed and class to the Tigers, helping set up plenty of forward forays from the back half.
Hotton is the brother of AFL player Taj and will strengthen an already strong midfield, adding speed and an ability to push forward and kick goals, having also been on St Kilda’s list previously.
Former Carlton and Port Melbourne on-baller Philp will provide a hard-edge to the Tigers' team, racking up tackles and helping force turnovers. His explosiveness and raw power are features of his game, allowing Philp to get from the inside to the outside of the contest.
A strong core group
The Tigers retained plenty of key players from their 2025 campaign with 18 existing players re-signing.
Experienced members of the squad Lachlan Street, Joel Garner, Mutaz El Nour, Harry Scott, Liam George and Mohammed Yassine are all set to play together again and take their games to new heights.
All of those players will be crucial, with Scott and Yassine having career-best seasons last year, while El Nour capped off a brilliant season by winning the Guinane Medal (Richmond’s VFL Best and Fairest), being selected in the VFL Team of the Year and representing the VFL in the AAMI State Game against the SANFL.
Street will captain the side once again while Garner and El Nour are vice-captains, with George and Scott in the leadership group, all bringing important traits to an ever-improving side.
Young list with plenty of room for growth
The average age of Richmond’s VFL list is just 21 years of age, with six teenagers and many players between the ages of 20 and 22, in an exciting sign for the Club.
There are so many young players hungry to establish themselves as solid VFl contributors and cement themselves in the team, with many youngsters set to explode on-field this year and take the competition by storm.
Adding to the excitement is the platform the VFL provides Richmond's AFL-listed youngsters to perform and develop, which will be a crucial element to the campaign.
Plethora of players set for breakout years
Harry Scott - The youngster had a great season for the Tigers last season and at just 21 years of age, the goalkicking midfielder is set for another big year in 2026. He established himself as one of Richmond’s best midfielders and finished in the top five of the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, recognising the VFL’s most promising young players that are under 24 years of age.
Sam Toner - The athletic wingman played 14 games in his first season at Tigerland and showed that he was more than capable of playing at the level, regularly pushing forward to kick goals and also working his way back into defence. Toner has a fantastic leap and is a lovely, precise kick when he is up and running, set to excite Tiger fans this season and beyond.
Tom Ferguson - The 21-year-old showed glimpses of the player he could become in his first season at VFL level, showcasing his elite speed, foot skills and football IQ throughout his six games in the yellow and black. Look for him to feature in the side much more often and take his game to another level at half forward, while also using his blistering pace through the midfield.
Nick Collier - The determined defender had a breakout season playing 20 games for the Tigers and became a regular member of the back six. He would often shut down a dangerous small forward, doing a job on multiple AFL-listed players while playing with fearlessness and courage. He is extremely underrated and integral to the way Richmond plays its footy, set to go to new heights in 2026 after another strong pre-season.
New coach at the helm
The Tigers will embark on a new era under Jack Madgen in 2026 with the first-time VFL coach set to provide fresh ideas and a renewed level of excitement to the group this season.
Madgen has previously coached the Adelaide Boys Academy team and been a successful line coach with the Crows AFLW side, hungry to continue developing his coaching and driven to help the VFL program push further into finals this season.
