The Richmond selectors have plenty of playing options available to them, in the wake of the team’s big loss to St Kilda at Etihad Stadium last Saturday, if they decide to make a few changes.
With the Tigers’ VFL team coming off a fourth consecutive win, and consolidating a place in the top eight, there is a substantial list of players pressing strongly for a call-up to senior ranks.
At the top of that list is tough, reliable utility Nick Vlastuin, who hasn’t played at AFL level since suffering a fractured scapula in his right shoulder during Richmond’s Round 7 loss to the Western Bulldogs early May.
Vlastuin was a solid contributor for the Tiger ‘twos’ in their win against Casey last weekend, finishing with 15 disposals and five tackles, including some real ‘bone-crunching’ ones.
He would be a valuable addition to the Tigers’ AFL side, which has been well beaten in the contested-ball category over the past couple of weeks.
There are three other players who also shape as candidates to provide Richmond with a boost in this important area of the game.
Former Giant Jacob Townsend has been a model of consistency for the VFL Tigers throughout the season.
Townsend is coming off another dominant midfield performance against Casey – 34 disposals, including 11 clearances and 11 tackles.
Talented, young, first-year player Jack Graham continued his impressive VFL form, after missing the first half of the season with a broken ankle, picking up 22 disposals, with six clearances and six tackles, in the victory over Casey.
Then, of course, there’s tenacious, ball-magnet midfielder, Anthony Miles, who is rated a top chance for the VFL competition’s Liston Medal following his excellent efforts over the course of the season.
Miles didn’t play last weekend, as he was on standby for Richmond’s AFL team, but if the Tigers opt to bolster their inside ball-winning capacity, he would have to be right in contention for a recall.
If it’s more run and rebound out of the backline that the Tiger selectors are looking at for Sunday’s Round 17 clash with Brisbane, on the fast Etihad Stadium deck, then the names Oleg Markov and Nathan Broad will feature prominently in discussion.
Markov, who returned to the VFL side last weekend, had a significant impact in the first half with his run-and-carry, while Broad is in fine form at the moment, having recovered from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for a couple of months.
He had 27 disposals, including five rebound-50s, and took eight marks in the clash with Casey.
The Club’s No. 1 pick in last year’s AFL National Draft, exciting small forward Shai Bolton, pushed his claims for a return to the senior side with a lively display.
Tall forwards Todd Elton and Callum Moore, both on the comeback trail after missing several weeks through injury, also showed promising signs.
Elton finished with 21 disposals, eight marks, six inside-50s and two goals. Moore had 12 disposals, took seven marks and also kicked two goals.
Two other talented Tiger cubs in Corey Ellis (24 disposals, six tackles) and Mabior Chol (14 disposals, five marks) were more than handy, too.
And if the selectors feel it’s time to provide big Toby Nankervis with a chop-out in the ruck, then young Ivan Soldo did his chances of adding to his two senior appearances with the Tigers no harm.
Soldo had 12 disposals, six tackles and 41 hit-outs opposed to Casey’s Melbourne-listed ruckman Jake Spencer.
