Adam Marcon has received the ideal 24th birthday gift today – elevated from Richmond’s rookie list to the senior playing list and then selected to make his AFL debut in Saturday’s match against Greater Western Sydney at Canberra's StarTrack (Manuka) Oval.
Marcon, who was the Tigers’ third pick (No. 47 overall) in the rookie draft late last year, has been a model of consistency at VFL level throughout season 2016.
He’s been a ‘ball-magnet’ in his midfield role and has worked diligently, both offensively and defensively, to contribute significantly to Richmond’s VFL team.
After being overlooked in a succession of AFL drafts, and plying his trade so impressively in VFL ranks, with both the Northern Blues and Williamstown, Marcon finally gets the opportunity to test himself at the game’s highest level.
Marcon’s inclusion is one of four changes the Tigers have made for their Round 19 clash with GWS.
Rebounding defender Bachar Houli returns following 11 weeks on the sidelines due to a severe wrist injury, while tall forward Ty Vickery and versatile small man Kane Lambert also have been recalled to the line-up.
They replace Shane Edwards, who has a calf injury, Ben Griffiths, who has a groin injury, and Jason Castagna and Liam McBean, who have both been omitted.
Richmond’s three emergencies for the match are Castagna, Andrew Moore and Nathan Broad.
The Round 19 Richmond team
B: Rance, Astbury, Grimes
HB: Short, Hunt, B. Ellis
C: Lambert, Miles, Cotchin
HF: Martin, Rioli, Markov
F: Riewoldt, Lloyd, Vickery
R: Hampson, Grigg, Vlastuin
IC: Drummond, Houli, Conca, Marcon
Em: A. Moore, Broad, Castagna
In: Houli, Lambert, Vickery, Marcon
Out: Edwards (calf), Griffiths (groin), McBean, Castagna
New: Marcon, 24, 180cm, 80kg, midfielder, recruited from Preston/Northern Knights/Northern Blues/Williamstown, Richmond’s third pick (No. 47 overall) in last year’s AFL rookie draft
