Josh Caddy has surpassed his best goal return for an entire AFL season after just 10 home-and-away rounds this year.
The talented, robust Richmond forward/midfielder kicked a league football career-high six goals in last Saturday’s 28-point victory over St Kilda to take his 2018 season’s tally to 23.
And Caddy has scored those 23 goals in just eight games, as he missed the Round 3 match against Hawthorn through suspension and the Round 5 clash with Melbourne because of a hamstring injury.
Caddy’s previous goals PB for a season was 21, which he achieved twice – in 2016 while he was with Geelong and in his 2017 debut year at Richmond.
This season, Caddy has scored multiple goals five times in his eight games.
He now has 44 goals in 30 games overall with the Tigers.
When star spearhead Jack Riewoldt was sidelined from about five minutes into the Round 10 match against the Saints with concussion, Richmond needed someone to step up and offer themselves as a viable otpion in attack.
That someone was Caddy, who did it superbly, taking a game-high five marks inside-50 and finishing with a half-dozen goal haul in a superb display that netted him the Ian Stewart Medal for being the best player afield.
Post-match, Caddy played down his individual success on the day, preferring to focus on how the team covered for Riewoldt’s absence.
“We just all had to take our turn playing as a key forward,” Caddy told ‘Fox Footy’.
“’Dusty’ (Dustin Martin) spent time down there, ‘Cotch’ (Trent Cotchin) did as well . . . and we got the job done.
“Cal Moore did a great job, too . . . had a bit of a presence.
“It’s good to have him in the side.
“He’s a big boy, so it’s good to see him have a run and jump at the footy.”