Richmond forward Tom Lynch has highlighted rising Tiger defender Sam Grlj as someone who has impressed throughout off-season workouts.

Grlj has been a constant presence at Waverley since the 2026 campaign ended, working on his game and fitness ahead of his second AFL season. 

The commitment and work ethic hasn't gone unnoticed by Lynch, who has also been putting in the hard yards during the break.

"There's been plenty of boys getting in. Sam Grlj is lighting up the track at the moment. He is looking exciting," Lynch said on Triple M.

"It's amazing, these guys are 18 year olds, have a full pre-season and they turn into men. We just need these guys to play most games, get on track, and it's really exciting."

Lynch is set for his 17th AFL season in 2027, remaining a vitally important piece to the Tigers' forward line, helping to guide and mentor the next crop of key Richmond forwards.

The leadership role is one the 33-year-old has embraced and he hopes the likes of Harry Armstrong, Jonty Faull, Tom Sims and others, will be "overtaking my spot [in the team] pretty soon".

"My role is to make them as good as they can be as quickly as they can be," Lynch said.

Richmond's official pre-season training will begin in early November with the one-to-four year players.