The excitement surrounding Richmond’s 2019 forward line continues to grow, with assistant coach Andrew McQualter expecting there to be some “healthy competition” for spots. 

“We’ve got Jake Aarts and Mav Weller coming in to our team as well as Tom Lynch, there’ll be some great competition and they’re all travelling well at the moment,” he said.

McQualter, who arrived at the club in 2013, has assumed the role of forwards coach in 2019 after two years in charge of the midfield/stoppages. 

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“Six years has crept up on me pretty quickly. I’ve had a few different jobs in that time and I have a new one now which is exciting,” he said.

“I’m really enjoying it at the moment. It’s a smaller group, the forwards, so I’m just getting to know the guys down there.

“Obviously with doing the stoppages you do talk to most of the players, but [it’s now] more in-depth.”

McQualter is pleased with how the forward group are currently tracking, successfully laying the foundations before they ramp up in the new year.

“At this stage it’s all about just staying healthy, getting fit, and for me, it’s building up my relationships with the players and understanding how they tick a little bit,” he said.

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“We’ll get into the nuts and bolts a bit later in the pre-season.”

Recruits Mav Weller and Tom Lynch have added to Richmond’s growing list of former Gold Coast Suns, which also includes Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia.

McQualter himself played at the Suns in 2012 after a long stint at St Kilda, and is enjoying working with the bunch again.

“They’re all great guys, really good to work with and hard workers,” he said.