Richmond young gun Hugo Ralphsmith will have a new guernsey number in season 2023.

Ralphsmith initially was given the No. 45 guernsey after being taken by the Tigers with their fourth pick (No. 46 overall) in the 2019 AFL national draft.

The talented speedster made 19 senior appearances in that number, receiving a Rising Star nomination during the 2022 season.

During the recent off-season, Ralphsmith requested a move to the No. 13, which was subsequently granted.

His desire to wear the No. 13 is due to the fact that was the number his father, Sean, had during his playing career with St Kilda in the 1990s. He also wore the No. 45 earlier in his AFL career.

Ralphsmith said it was "unbelievable" to be continuing the family tradition.

"I loved the No. 45 and dad wore 45, and now transitioning to a lower number in 13, you can't ask for anything more," he said.

"He's had a big inspiration to my footy and growing up, he was my junior footy coach, so he's always had a big influence.

"So, to get the number that he wore when he played his best footy, it's pretty special."

The 21-year-old said his dad's hard-working nature had inspired him as a footballer. 

"When he was playing, his nickname was 'the terminator' because he was always trying to be the hardest and toughest at training, so I'm trying to bringing that mindset into footy to work my hardest at training and then bring that into games," he said.

After exciting Richmond fans in 2022, Ralphsmith said he was eyeing off a big pre-season. 

"I'm just trying to have a really good pre-season this season, and then go into camp and then hit Round 1, and try and break into the team for Round 1 and play as many games as possible," he said.

"I think the half-back line is where but I've developed the most, but I also see myself as a wingman, but if I make the team wherever, that's where I'll play."

Hugo's father Sean said it meant a great deal to the whole Ralphsmith family.

"It means a lot that he'd want to wear my number... It's fantastic and we're very excited," he said.

"It's a progression when you're playing at a club that you get offered a lower number... And the fact that he was offered it was fantastic, so we're all thrilled.

"It's really exciting for us to see him play senior footy... We all go and sit and watch him play and it's amazing.

"I just hope he achieve his goals, that he gets into the team and stays there, and has some team success. There's nothing better than that."