Richmond father-son selection, Patrick Naish, will make his AFL debut against Geelong in Friday night’s Round 12 clash at the MCG.
Naish (182cm and 75kg), who was taken at pick 34 overall in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, splits his time between half-back and on the wing.
His father, Chris Naish, played 143 games for the Tigers from 1990-1997.
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The 20-year-old receives the call up after standout form in the VFL, where he has averaged 25.9 disposals a game this season.
Richmond development and VFL backline coach Ryan Ferguson provided an insight into the impressive progress of the Tiger cub in a recent edition of ‘Coaches’ Corner’, lauding his penetrating kick, hard-running and elite ball-use.
“He worked really hard pre-season on his game, but also on his body. I think he put on eight kilos, which is a pretty impressive effort,” Ferguson said.
“His defensive running and his patterns and his ability to tackle and step into the contest has improved out of sight.
“He can go back and see the game and read it well. But also, he can run the wing and get out and get some handball-receives.”
Naish will be Richmond’s fifth AFL debutant in 2019, following the debuts of Noah Balta, Jack Ross, Sydney Stack and most recently, Callum Coleman-Jones.
A premiership trio in Daniel Rioli, Jack Graham and Jacob Townsend has also been elevated to Richmond’s Round 12 side to face the ladder-toppers.
Livewire forward, Rioli, has been recalled for the match after spending two of the past three weeks in the VFL.
Senior coach Damien Hardwick this morning said Rioli’s time in the VFL was an opportunity for him to recapture his trademark high-pressure game, and that he trained “incredibly well” this week.
Big-bodied midfielder, Graham, will play his first AFL game since Round 4 this year.
After suffering a hamstring complaint six weeks ago in the VFL, Graham has returned to form after building nicely through Richmond’s VFL side in the past two rounds.
Rookie-listed forward Jacob Townsend has also been rewarded for consistent form as he comes into the side for his first game since Round 20, 2018.
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They replace David Astbury (groin and hamstring), Brandon Ellis (groin), Shai Bolton (omitted) and Nathan Broad (omitted).
Richmond’s four emergencies for the Cats clash are Maverick Weller, Mabior Chol, Connor Menadue and Riley Collier-Dawkins.
Richmond's Round 12 team:
B Ryan Garthwaite, Nick Vlastuin, Dylan Grimes
HB Noah Balta, Shane Edwards, Bachar Houli
C Kamdyn McIntosh, Dion Prestia, Liam Baker
HF Daniel Rioli, Jason Castagna, Daniel Butler
F Jacob Townsend, Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch
Foll Ivan Soldo, Trent Cotchin, Josh Caddy
I/C Sydney Stack, Jack Higgins, Jack Graham, Patrick Naish
Emg Maverick Weller, Mabior Chol, Connor Menadue, Riley Collier-Dawkins
In: Daniel Rioli, Jacob Townsend, Jack Graham, Patrick Naish
Out: Brandon Ellis (groin), David Astbury (groin and hamstring), Shai Bolton (omitted), Nathan Broad (omitted)
