Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is closely monitoring the VFL form of several young Tiger players, who are pressing for senior selection before season 2014 is over.
“There are some guys putting their hands up,” Hardwick said.
“Obviously, (talented, tall forward) Liam McBean is probably the one . . . He’s kicked nine goals over the past two games, but has still got some areas of his game that we’d like to see get better.
“Ben Lennon (the Club’s first pick in last year’s National Draft), we’d love him to work his way back into the side.
“There are a couple of other players putting their hands up as well, but the majority of our young talent’s on display . . .
“We’ve got a really young midfield – Nick Vlastuin, (Trent) Cotchin, Brandon Ellis, Reece Conca, (Dustin Martin) and young (Anthony) Miles.
“There wouldn’t be many younger midfields going around.”
Hardwick also spoke about the playing futures of two Richmond players at the opposite end of league football’s age scale – esteemed veterans Chris Newman and Jake King.
“Chris has been playing his role within the side. That’s the one thing he does incredibly well,” Hardwick said.
“Over the course of the next five or six weeks, we’ll sit down with Chris and make a decision on his future then.
“Jake is probably about two or three weeks away (from resuming playing following injury) . . . We’ll see how he goes, but he’s got to earn his spot, also.
“We don’t really give away jumpers here. We’re past that stage of our footy club.
“So, he’s got to be playing well.
“We’ve got some players that are playing well at a lower level, so it’d be unfair for that player to jump another if they’re not playing to the level of expectation required.”