With Richmond unleashing three debutants – Sam Lalor, Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong – in tonight’s Round 1 match against Carlton at the MCG, Tony Greenberg lists the top five opening-round debuts he’s seen by Tiger players (excluding players recruited from other AFL/VFL clubs or senior state league competitions).
No. 5. Dan Butler v Carlton, MCG, 2017
Age on debut: 20 years, 293 days
Debut performance: 19 disposals, two goals
Match result: Richmond won by 43 points
Career at Richmond: 45 games, 53 goals, member of 2017 premiership team
No. 4. Justin Pickering v Melbourne, MCG, 1988
Age on debut: 20 years, 246 days
Debut performance: 26 disposals (team-high), 5 marks
Match result: Richmond lost by 46 points
Career at Richmond: 59 games, 54 goals
No. 3. Michael Pickering v Footscray, Western Oval, 1984
Age on debut: 20 years, 122 days
Debut performance:19 disposals, 8 marks, 3 goals.
Match result: Tigers lost by 39 points
Career at Richmond: 136 games, 160 goals
No. 2. Royce Hart v Essendon, MCG, 1967
Age on debut: 19 years, 64 days
Debut performance:15 disposals, 10 marks, 3 goals (3.7)
Match result: Richmond won by 35 points
Career at Richmond: 187 games, 369 goals, four-time premiership player – 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974
No. 1. Kamdyn McIntosh v Carlton, MCG, 2015
Age on debut: 20 years, 364 days
Debut performance: 23 disposals, 9 marks, 1 goal (received an AFL Rising Star nomination for that display).
Match result: Richmond won by 27 points
Career at Richmond: 190 games, 54 goals, dual premiership player – 2017, 2020
