Senior coach Damien Hardwick has this morning confirmed Jack Ross will make his AFL debut this Saturday against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
Ross, 187cm and 87kg, was selected at pick no. 43 overall in the 2018 national draft, and is the first of Richmond’s 2018 draft class to gain a senior berth.
A big-bodied midfielder who shows great composure with ball in hand, Ross comes into Richmond’s round four side after strong recent VFL form.
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With superstar Dustin Martin suspended and skipper Trent Cotchin and defender Jayden Short out injured, 18-year-old Ross will play his first game under a first-time captain, Shane Edwards.
Ross will most likely be joined by Jacob Townsend and Shai Bolton for the trip to Adelaide Oval, while Dylan Grimes will return from his one-week suspension.
Bachar Houli will look to prove he's over a hamstring complaint during Thursday's main session, while Josh Caddy, who has fought illness this week, is hoping one VFL match is enough to return from an ankle setback.
As the coach prepares for his first match in charge without any of the 'Big Four' – Martin, Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance – the inclusion of Ross is set to provide instant excitement.
"We've loved the way he plays, he's tough, he's hard, he brings a real Richmond attitude to the way we're going to play this ball game," Hardwick said on Thursday.
"I think he's one of those kids that slept with a footy when he was a young kid.
"He's a very quiet lad but he plays the game in a brutal way and I think Richmond supporters are going to fall in love with him."
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Hardwick identified Port Adelaide's speed as a major weapon to stop at the Adelaide Oval.
"They've got a great core group of high-end talent and then they've injected some young kids who have brought about a spark, which is what good footy clubs do," he said.
"Ken's (Hinkley) got them playing (an) exciting, fast, attacking brand of footy. They use the corridor the most in the AFL, they handball the most in the AFL, most kicks in the AFL."
Admitting Riewoldt had been "doing my head in this week," by pushing for a recall from his wrist injury, Hardwick said his spearhead would come under consideration for round five against Sydney.
Cotchin ran laps during the early parts of Thursday's session as he prepares for up to three weeks on the sidelines with an injured left hamstring.
