Richmond has finalised its 2025 VFL coaching structure, led by senior coach Jake Batchelor who is set for his first year in the role.

Batchelor enters his first year as a coach at the Club having spent seven years as a player from 2011 to 2018.

The 33-year-old spent one year at Frankston VFL as a playing-assistant coach before moving to St Kilda in a developmental role for six years.

Batchelor was appointed as senior coach of the Saints’ aligned Sandringham Zebras VFL team in October 2020, a role he held for four seasons.

Supporting Batchelor is Chris Muratore, who returns for a second consecutive season as VFL backs coach.

Since arriving at the club in November 2023, the premiership-winning Parkside coach has also taken up a role as a development coach within Richmond’s AFLW program.

Ben Shelton has joined the Club as VFL forwards coach.

Over the past 13 years, Shelton has been involved in various coaching roles, most recently, with the Northern Knights in the Coates Talent League where he was a midfield coach for the past two seasons.

After 11 years at Bundoora Football Club, including six years as senior coach, Michael Ryan has been appointed as the Club’s VFL bench coach. 

Ryan featured in Bundoora’s premiership-winning side in 2013 as part of its leadership group before taking on the coaching reins of the club in 2019 and leading the club to consecutive Northern Football Netball League Grand Final appearances.

Batchelor will also be supported by AFL Development coaches Sam Lonergan and Jack Ziebell this season.

AFL Tigers Josh Gibcus and Tyler Young will also support the program in developmental roles while they continue their ACL rehabilitation.

Joel Garner rounds out the coaching panel in a playing VFL development role.