It was Tyler Sonsie’s form in a one-off appearance for Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate Box Hill during the 2021 season that set AFL talent scouts’ tongues wagging.

The silky-skilled, young midfielder from NAB League team Eastern Ranges had 24 disposals, five inside-50s, four rebound-50s, five tackles and kicked two goals in Box Hill’s loss to Werribee back in May.

Richmond national recruiting manager Matt Clarke was delighted when Sonsie was still available at the first of the Tigers’ three successive picks in the second round of the 2021 national draft (pick 28 overall).

And, as Clarke explained on the special post-draft episode of the Club’s Talking Tigers podcast, Sonsie’s display that May day for Box Hill was all the more meritorious due to the fact he was not 100 percent fit.

“He went into that game a little bit banged up. We weren’t sure if he was going to play,” Clarke said.

“It just shows with those guys that, at whatever level they play, they can find the footy, and Tyler’s one of those.

“He was really impressive in that game.”

Sonsie showcased his strength at the centre bounces throughout the match for Box Hill, and that’s an area of his game that Clarke believes will provide the Tigers with a valuable boost.

“That helps us. There was a bit of a need there at that point to assist some of the younger guys that are going to come through . . . “Dowy” (Thomson Dow), “Rossy” (Jack Ross), Riley (Collier-Dawkins) and those sorts of guys,” Clarke said.

“I think adding another one (midfielder) was really important for us.”