Richmond great Matthew Richardson has strongly endorsed the Tigers’ plan to use talented playmaker Shane Edwards in a more permanent forward role this season.

Edwards produced an eye-catching, four-goal performance up forward in Richmond’s decisive victory over Hawthorn in a second-round NAB Challenge match at Beaconsfield late last month.

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‘Richo’ believes the 27-year-old veteran of 168 league games, is more than capable of providing the Tigers’ attack with a significant boost.

“We need small forwards, and we’ve addressed that area at the draft with (Daniel) Rioli.  But you can’t expect too much of a first-year player, so I think it’s a great move if Shane can play predominantly forward,” Richardson said on the latest episode of the Club’s official podcast ‘Talking Tigers’.

“If he played there for the whole year, I think you could get 35-40 goals out of him, absolutely. 

“I think he’ll still go into the middle and pinch-hit at the centre bounce, because we know he’s a great clearance player.  But I think he needs to play forward 75 percent of the time. 

“A good clearance player normally means you’re reading the play pretty well.  So he can be a great crumbing player.

 “Shane puts on good forward pressure as well.  And, if you’re a small forward now, it’s not just about goals.  You need to be able to lay tackles.   

“We’ll still need him in the middle at times . . . It probably depends on how guys like (Jacob) Townsend and Andrew Moore go in the middle. 

“If they can spend more time in there, it means Shane can play forward a little bit more . . .”  

Edwards’ best goal return in a season during his decade-long league career at Richmond is 29 in 2012.

He kicked 13 goals in 16 games last season.