To quote the late, great AFL coach Allan Jeans, ‘Crisis creates opportunity’ – and that’s what happened in Richmond’s Round 8 clash with West Coast at Optus Stadium, when the Tigers’ veteran star midfielder Dion Prestia was forced out of the game just five minutes into the opening quarter with a calf issue, adding to the Club’s huge injury list.

Richmond coach Adem Yze was forced to shuffle the magnets, with Kane McAuliffe taking Prestia’s place in the midfield.

And McAuliffe responded in strong style, delivering his best display as a member of the Tigers’ senior side.

The young gun had an AFL career-high 28 disposals, with nine contested possessions, three marks, an equal AFL career-high six inside-50s, four clearances, an AFL career-high five rebound-50s, a clever, running checkside goal, seven score involvements, six intercepts, four tackles and a game-high/AFL career-high 625 metres gained.

“Kane McAuliffe comes into the game planning to play on the wing and within five minutes we’re moving him inside (midfield),” Yze said in his post-match press conference.

“He has done it before, but to be able to flick your mindset...it is a lot different playing inside compared to a wing role. 

“So, it’s a credit to him to just shift his mindset and to have a big impact on the game.”