After nearly three years, Mabior Chol made a promising return to Richmond’s senior side in last Thursday night’s clash with Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

Chol, who made his AFL debut in the final round of the 2016 season against Sydney at the SCG, was a late inclusion for the Tigers after Ivan Soldo withdrew because of a virus.

The talented tall, filling in as the team’s main ruckman, had 13 hit-outs, eight disposals, took two marks, kicked a goal, and showed clear signs that he’s capable of playing a lot more football at the game’s highest level.

While that length of time for Chol between senior games for Richmond may seem large, it well and truly pales in comparison to that of Billy Schmidt, who was a pioneer member of the Tigers’ 1908 VFL playing group.

Schmidt, a star centreman, spent four seasons with Richmond from 1908-11, captaining the side in 1910.

He left the Tigers at the end of the 1911 season to join St Kilda, but briefly returned to Punt Road a decade later, in 1921.

Here, courtesy of Richmond history guru Rhett Bartlett’s website ‘Tigerland Archive’, is the comprehensive list of players with the longest time between senior appearances in the Yellow and Black . . .

3570 days: Billy Schmidt – from his 71^st game on September 2, 1911 to his 72^nd on June 11, 1921.

2765 days: Charlie Ricketts – from October 7, 1905 (Club’s VFA era) to May 3, 1913 (VFL era).

2744 days: David Cloke – from his 176^th game on September 25, 1982 to his 177^th on March 31, 1990.

2506 days: Alf Hill – from September, 28, 1889 (VFA) to August 8, 1986 (VFA).    

2149 days: Pat Davey – from his 7^th game on July 11, 1936 to his 8^th on May 30, 1942.

2065 da ys: Trent Nichols – from his 56^th game on August 4, 1991 to his 57^th on March 30, 1997.

1883 days: Frank Howard – from his 1^st game on May 8, 1943 to his 2^nd on July 3, 1948.

1848 days: Bill Mahoney – from his 145^th game on July 17, 1915 to his 146^th on August 7, 1920.

1687 days: Phil Nagle – from his 7^th game on September 6, 1941 to his 8^th on April 20, 1946.

1680 days: Bruce Tschirpig – from his 8^th game on August 28, 1971 to his 9^th on April 3, 1976.

1449 days: Frank Hughes senior – from his 24^th game on June 19, 1915 to his 25^th on June 7, 1919.

1449 days: Tom Graham – from June 26, 1886 (VFA) to June 14, 1890 (VFL).

1442 days: George Threlfall – from his 5^th game on June 7, 1919 to his 6^th on May 19, 1923.

1414 days: Wayne Walsh – from his 6^th game on August 24, 1968 to his 7^th on July 8, 1972.

1393 days: Graham Gaunt – from his 2^nd game on September 2, 1972 to his 3^rd on June 26, 1976.

1386 days: Kevin Colls – from his 2^nd game on July 18, 1942 to his 3^rd on May 4, 1946.

1379 days: Ray Boyanich – from his 61^st game on October 7, 1972 to his 62^nd on July 17, 1976.

1344 days: Laird Smith – from his 114^th game on September 6, 1941 to his 115^th on May 12, 1945.

1337 days: Terry Smith – from his 50^th game on August 7, 1982 to his 51^st on April 5, 1986.

1330 days: Daryl Vernon – from his 4^th game on August 8, 1981 to his 5^th on March 30, 1985.

1176 days: Hughie James – from his 114^th game on May 6, 1916 to his 115^th on July 26, 1919.

1134 days: Dave Lynch – from his 4^th game on June 9, 1923 to his 5^th on July 17, 1926.

1064 days: Keith Millar – from his 33^rd on June 25, 1927 to his 34^th on May 24, 1930.

1043 days: Anthony Smith – from his 1^st on August 9, 1969 to his 2^nd on June 17, 1972.

1042 days: Mark Coughlan – from his 83^rd game on June 18, 2006 to his 84^th on April 25, 2009.

1038 days: Murray Thompson – from his 3^rd game on June 16, 1973 to his 4^th on April 19, 1976.

1036 days: Jack Sullivan – from his 25^th on June 19, 1943 to his 26^th on April 20, 1946.

1036 days: Laurie Taylor – from his 7^th game on July 15, 1944 to his 8^th on May 17, 1947.

1029 days: Bill Burns – from his 27^th game on July 3, 1909 to his 28^th on April 27, 1912.

1021 days: Mabior Chol – from his 1^st game on August 27???, 2016 to his 2^nd on June 13, 2019.

1015 days: Ralph Empey – from his 15^th on July 18, 1925 to his 16^th on April 28, 192.

1008 days: Bill Burns – from his 54^th game on August 9, 1913 to his 55^th on May 13, 1916.