Richmond has selected Geelong VFL defender, Kye Annand, with the second pick in the 2026 Telstra AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
The 200-centimetre defender has been a standout for the Cats across the backline.
Annand has shifted to a full-time key defender in 2026, after spending time previously as a ruck/forward in the Cats program and at local level for Ocean Grove and Geelong West Football Clubs.
Hailing from Ocean Grove, Annand joined the Geelong VFL program in 2023.
Richmond’s National Recruiting Manager, Rhy Gieschen, welcomed Annand to the Club and is excited to see what he can do at the elite level.
"Kye is an exciting prospect, he’s a 200cm competitive key defender with a great balance between defending and his intercept game,” Gieschen said.
"We love his combativeness and courage, and his rate of improvement over the past few seasons.
"Importantly, he is a quality person off the field who has been working full time as a plumber, whilst developing his game at VFL level as a semi professional athlete.
"It's been great getting to know him and his family over the last little period. He's got a good personality and I think the fans will be really excited about welcoming him to Richmond."
