On a night where Richmond celebrated the 200-game milestone of one of the Club’s best bargain-basement buys of all time, Jayden Short, in the 2026 Dreamtime at the ‘G clash with Essendon, a Tiger cub showed he also may well prove down the track to be an excellent ‘bang-for-buck’ yellow and black recruit.

Patrick Retschko, playing just his sixth game of AFL football, was superb for the Tigers in their gritty 18-point victory over the Bombers.

The 20-year-old wingman, recruited by Richmond with pick 99 in the 2025 trade period, following a one-year stint at Geelong, showcased his super-impressive running power and ball-winning ability right throughout the contest.

He finished the match with an AFL career-high 27 disposals, career-high eight marks, five inside-50s, career-high nine score involvements, career-high six intercepts, three tackles and 499 metres gained.

In his six appearances at the game’s highest level this season for Richmond, after playing only VFL football with the Cats, Retschko is averaging 18.7 disposals, 5.2 marks, 2.7 inside-50s, 3.0 rebound-50s, 3.2 score involvements, 2.8 intercepts, 2.5 tackles and 426.7 metres gained.

Milestone man Short, who was Richmond’s first pick (No. 11 overall) in the 2015 AFL rookie draft, and subsequently became a dual Tigers premiership player, as well as a Jack Dyer Medallist, already is a big Retschko fan.

“’Retsch’ is a gun...since the day he walked in I’ve been really impressed by the guy with his willingness to work,” Short said in a post-match interview with Richmond Media.

“He obviously came from a good system down in Geelong, and he’s really hungry, which I love from a younger guy. 

“He’s come in and really set the tone with his training. 

“His running ability is like I’ve never seen before. But then, ball in hand, he’s elite as well.

“I’m rapt he’s on our team now, and he’s been a great teammate ever since coming across. So, really lucky to have him.”