Richmond will unearth seven fresh VFL-listed players, as well as draftees Samson Ryan and Maurice Rioli Junior, when they take on Sandringham at the Swinburne Centre on Friday afternoon.
Forward/ruck Ryan and small-forward Rioli have impressed across five practice matches in the lead-up to tomorrow, although the Round 1 clash will be the pair’s first game for premiership points in a Richmond jumper.
It has been a long time coming for the VFL Tigers, who last played in the Grand Final victory over Williamstown, which Marlion Pickett was best on ground in, back in September 2019.
Among the others named for the Tigers tomorrow is dual AFL premiership player Josh Caddy, Mabior Chol, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, Callum Coleman-Jones, Patrick Naish and Ryan Garthwaite.
Sydney Stack is also set to play his first minutes for the 2021 season, with the 20-year-old named at full forward.
The unfurling of Richmond's 2019 VFL premiership flag will take place ahead of the first bounce of the Round 1 match against Sandringham. The low-key, on-field ceremony will acknowledge the contribution of volunteers to the Club's VFL program and begin at approximately 11.40am.
Learn more about the new Richmond VFL players here.
Richmond Round 1 VFL team v Sandringham, Friday, April 16, 12pm at Swinburne Centre:
B 53. Garrett McDonagh, 42. Ryan Garthwaite, 65. Joel Nathan
HB 43. Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, 51. Steve Morris ©, 64. Sam Durham
C 22. Josh Caddy, 5. Jack Ross, 6. Patrick Naish
HF 54. Brad Melville, 49. Maurice Rioli, 52. Angus Hicks
F 32. Samson Ryan, 44. Sydney Stack, 40. Callum Coleman-Jones
R 41. Mabior Chol, 36. Will Martyn, 26. Riley Collier-Dawkins
INT 66. Bailey Henderson, 55. Lachlan Street, 63. Dylan Cook, 56. Riley Loton
EMG 58. Cam Olden, 57. Nathan Oakes, 68. Matt Bartlett
NEW: Garrett McDonagh (West Preston), Joel Nathan (North Ringwood), Sam Durham (Seymour), Brad Melville (Wangaratta Magpies), Maurice Rioli (NT Thunder), Angus Hicks (Shepparton United), Samson Ryan (AFL QLD), Dylan Cook (Seymour), Riley Loton (Banyule).
