Richmond has finalised its VFL playing list for the 2018 season.
Richmond VFL and development coach Craig McRae has welcomed eight new faces to his program this year, including the son of 1991 Jack Dyer Medalist Craig Lambert.
Standing at 183cm, Bailey Lambert, 18, has joined the VFL Tigers’ midfield ranks.
His father Craig played 123 senior matches for Richmond between 1988-1993.
McRae has also welcomed former Brisbane Lion Blake Grewar to Richmond’s VFL program, while former AFL-listed Tiger Steve Morris was appointed captain.
The 24-man squad also includes 13 players who have returned from 2017 and two players who’ve been upgraded from the development squad.
Richmond has also announced a two-year partnership with Goodyear as a Joint-Major Development Partner for its VFL team.
Goodyear representative, Lou Mandanici, Vice President Consumer PBU & Wholesale ANZ spoke of the new partnership at Richmond’s VFL launch event at the Swinburne Centre, Punt Road Oval on Monday night.
“Goodyear Australia is absolutely delighted to join the Richmond Football Club family,” Mandanici said.
“As a business focused on continual development and innovation, we are committed to investing in programs to build and nurture talent. Therefore, the opportunity to partner with the Tigers VFL team, as part of a broader sponsorship is the perfect collaboration.”
“It’s exciting to welcome Goodyear to the Richmond Football Club, and start a new journey with them supporting our VFL team,” Richmond CEO, Brendon Gale said.
Goodyear’s logo will feature on the back of the VFL team’s guernsey.
With the VFL pre-season winding up, the VFL Tigers will play their final practice match this Friday, March 30 from 12.30pm against Box Hill at the Swinburne Centre, Punt Road Oval.
McRae has also finalised his coaching panel, with Ryan Ferguson continuing as defensive coach, Xavier Clarke covering stoppages and offence and Marc Sophoulis as coaching coordinator.
Paul Griffiths has joined the program as forwards coach, while Morris and Tom Langford will assist as development coaches.
The VFL Tigers home and away season kicks off the following week with a grand final rematch against Port Melbourne at Fortburn Stadium on Saturday, April 7 from 2pm.
Click here to see the full 2018 VFL fixture.
Richmond VFL 2018 squad
51. Steven Morris
52. Shaun Mannagh
53. Hugh Beasley
54. Jacob Ballard
55. Ryan Bathie
56. Blake Grewar
57. Brandon Wood
58. Jake Aarts
59. Harry Tanner
60. Charlie Thompson
61. James Fletcher
62. Max O'Sullivan
64. Thomas Silvestro
65. Joel Cusack
66. Harry Conway
67. Brenton Credlin
68. Connor Riley
69. Chris Grigoriadis
70. Danko Bzenic
72. Bailey Lambert
73. Joel Ernest
74. Rueben Hayward
78. Daniel Coffield
79. Billy Coates
Richmond VFL's Bailey Lambert during the first practice match against Werribee