The first week of pre-season can be ticked off in the record books, with Richmond’s youngest players showing off their improved fitness and skills, as well as a renewed hunger for 2027 success.

Following a strong Monday return for Richmond’s first-to-four-year players at Waverley Park, the young core returned to fine-tune on Tuesday.

Coaches Jack Madgen and Jake Batchelor led skills that included the use of golf balls and footballs, as players were expected to keep their eyes on each item as it was tossed through the air. Sam Cumming was confident and didn’t drop the ball, literally.

Paddy Carr and Tom Sims paired up and utilised their upper body strength to push weighted balls across the oval, with the focus on their stance and posture while moving the objects.

It was hard to ignore the physical presence of Jonty Faull and Harry Armstrong, with the key forward pair dominating contest work and moving freely through forward line set ups.

The players hit the gym following their time outside, as they continue to hone skills and build strength for the rigors of a full season next year.

Tuesday finished with group activities and teamwork planning and preparation sessions. The players worked to identify their strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, and planned their strategies for the 2027 campaign.

By Wednesday, it was back on track for main training, with the sun showing up again at Waverley.

Sims stood tall in contested forward line work, clunking marks with confidence, while working with defenders Kye Annand and Campbell Gray.

Veteran forward Tom Lynch joined the mid-week session, prominent in quick pace and change-of-direction running drills. He also wasted no time getting involved in tackling drills, applying pressure to his young counterparts.

The 251-gamer also spent time imparting knowledge onto Faull, Sims and Josh Smillie, working with the talls to help them better set up to move the ball freely in front of goal.

Sporting his fresh blond-tipped hair, goal sneak Jasper Alger found his voice and confidence, captivating teammates and coaches with his ability to find space and carry the ball inside-50.

Fresh off signing his contract extension, Zane Peucker’s kicking skills were highlighted amongst the small forwards and midfield group, as he continued to deliver to Taj Hotton with precision and ease.

Kane McAuliffe’s link up with Patrick Retschko along the wing was a sight for sore eyes, as the pair flexed their instinctive speed and hit targets rapidly inside-50.

It was also Hotton’s speed that caught onlookers’ attention, as he perfected multiple chase-down tackles on teammates, showing flashes of brilliance so early into the pre-season.

Head of Coaching and Strategy, Brett Ratten, has enabled a newfound confidence in the young brigade, with a voice of encouragement, as well as a clear blueprint of expectations placed on the group.

Meanwhile, Retschko has taken the lead early for the best pre-season boots, wearing a slick orange and white pair that are just as good as his emerald green of last season.

But, Tom Burton and Nathan O’Driscoll have quickly caught the attention of players and onlookers alike, with the pair sporting pink boots on Waverley Park.

Cumming was again a standout performer throughout the session, not missing a kick as he laced out his teammates with precision during a kick-and-run drill. 

The group wrapped up training by working on their forward 50 turnover, setting up as if the opposition was taking a kick out, and picking off the ball as it rebounded out from the pocket. 

Luke Trainor stood tall, commanding the ball and intercepting with a leaping mark before calmly making the switch to the other side of the oval. Small forward Seth Campbell was also looking dangerous, with his ability to crumb the footy and win it at stoppage. 

Friday brought colder weather, but an end to a successful first week.

Excitingly, training was headlined by the inclusion of recruits Kieren Briggs and O’Driscoll, who completed the full training session with the first-to-four year group.

Star midfielder Jack Ross, alongside winger Hugo Ralphsmith also made an early return, as they were included in full ground runs and match simulation. The pair showed off their improved running, with Ross feeding the ball inside-50 with precision and ease.

Ralphsmith also led the pack through running drills, streaming ahead at multiple points, proving his fitness is going to another level in 2027.

Irish players John Phiri and Evan Boyle joined training on Friday morning, with the duo trialing for Richmond’s open Category B Rookie list spot.

The pair were spotted kicking and working through skill sessions with Luke Breust, who put them through their paces straight off a flight from Ireland that landed on Thursday evening.

It’s no surprise that it was Sam Grlj controlling the pace of the ball, running it from defence with no signs of slowing down, feeding it with confidence up the line to a running Cumming and McAuliffe.

Trainor worked on his aerial skills in the backline, matching up well against Faull, while they worked the ball to ground for Noah Roberts-Thomson and Peucker to collect the crumbs.

Alger, Burton and Gray were three who stood out vocally, giving direction and feedback during a full-ground match simulation drill, setting the standard after just one week on track.

The young brigade have one more week to train as a focused group, before the senior players return to Waverley.