While the VFL Tigers didn’t come away with the win against Frankston last Friday night in enemy territory, it was a spirited effort from an undermanned side.

Richmond led for all but six minutes and 49 seconds of the game, with the Dolphins producing a strong final term to prevail by 12 points at Kinetic Stadium.

Given the Club's injuries in the AFL program, 20 of the 23 players that stepped onto the field last Friday night were VFL-listed players.

Ruckman Samson Ryan, emerging key forward Liam Fawcett and first-year forward Noah Roberts-Thomson were the only AFL-listed players for Richmond in Round 6, forced to dig deep into their VFL squad.

But despite an array of changes from Richmond’s loss to Casey on Anzac Day, the Tigers' trademark pressure and fight was back.

Many young players stood up in big moments and looked right at home in front of a hostile Frankston crowd, in a high octane game which was a pleasing aspect for coach Jack Madgen.

“There was such a great energy in the group…Samson, NRT and Fawcett really bought into that as well,” Madgen said.

“Zane Greenham in his first game showed really good moments of composure. He gave off a few handballs where he probably could’ve had a flying shot…that was really pleasing.

“The ones that are always at the level and play well week in, week out, like Streeter (Lachlan Street), Scotty (Harry Scott), Liam George, they always display great Richmond behaviours…I thought they played well.”

With the Tigers having struggled to win the tackle count at times throughout the early part of the 2026 VFL season, the DNA of their game was stronger than ever against the Dolphins.

It was especially evident in the last quarter with the ball locked inside Frankston’s forward-50 for virtually the whole quarter.

The defenders continued to repel and rebound the ball, producing desperate smothers, spoils and plays of desperation, before the weight of numbers ultimately just became too much to withstand. 

“In our program, we pride ourselves on recruiting really good players and Richmond men, and they showed that tonight,” Madgen said.

“I thought our pressure was at the level which is good because it probably hasn’t been in the last couple of weeks.

“Our backs held up really well in that last quarter. I think we were -17 inside-50s.

“Led by Mutaz (El Nour)…he got off to a bit of a slow start the big fella but he was unbelievable in the second half.”

The Tigers will be aiming to bounce back strongly this Saturday afternoon, when they take on Williamstown at DSV Stadium from 3:05pm.