RICHMOND will have first access to exciting goalkicker Kayle Kirby as part of its next generation academy if the Bendigo Pioneers product does not get selected in November's national or rookie drafts.
Kirby played for Vic Country at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and recently kicked five goals for Richmond's VFL side on debut at the level. He followed it with four goals the following week.
The Tigers have nominated the 18-year-old as one of five players they will be able to automatically list as category B rookies under the new indigenous and multicultural academies.
The AFL has approved the full list of 33 players and circulated it to clubs last week. Under the newly formed rules, clubs will be able to list the players as category B rookies if the prospects are overlooked at the national and rookie drafts.
The club will need to lodge relevant paperwork immediately after the rookie draft on November 28 to secure the multicultural or indigenous talent.
If the relevant club does not choose to take the player as a category B rookie, or if they are an AFL nomination and are not selected in the rookie or national drafts, then any club can list the player as a category B pick.
However, the player has to give his consent before it is confirmed in that case.
The Tigers will also have access to emerging ruckman Esava Ratugolea, who has a Fijian background, should he not be drafted and have also nominated indigenous prospect Jy Simpkin.
Simpkin has been injured for most of the year with a broken leg but is next to no chance to get through to the category B process. He is still likely to be a top-25 pick.
The AFL has also nominated a group of 10 players (five indigenous and five multicultural) who will be up for grabs after the rookie draft if they don't find an AFL home.
That list includes Kenny Ong, Tom Jok, Francis Watson and Cedric Cox. Cox hails from Halls Creek in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, but has impressed this year playing in the TAC Cup competition for the North Ballarat Rebels.
2016 NEXT GENERATION ACADEMY NOMINATIONS LIST
Collingwood
Isiah Farrell-Nelson (Indigenous)
Essendon
Aaron Tatchell (Indigenous),
Ben Ronke (Multicultural),
Muhammad Saad (Multicultural),
Ovie Magbegor (Multicultural)
, Hisham Kerbatieh (Multicultural),
Ozgur Uysal (Multicultural)
Geelong
Temoa Brown (Multicultural)
, Cameron Gurrumulnga (Indigenous), Deshan Gindkindi (Indigenous)
, Kamal Bukulatjpi (Indigenous)
Hawthorn
Tristan Tweedie (Indigenous)
Melbourne
Daniel Allsop (Multicultural)
Port Adelaide
Emmanuel Irra (Multicultural), Ariek Lual (Multicultural)
Richmond
Kayle Kirby (Indigenous), Billy Cooper (Indigenous), Esava Ratugolea (Multicultural)
, Derek Smith (Indigenous), Jy Simpkin (Indigenous)
St Kilda
Mitchell McCarthy (Indigenous)
West Coast
Tarir Bayok (Multicultural)
Western Bulldogs
Dion Johnstone (Indigenous)
AFL nominations
Mading Atem (Multicultural),
James El Moussalli (Multicultural), Kenny Ong (Multicultural),
Jai Rout (Indigenous),
Darren Allen (Indigenous),
Jamaine Jones (Indigenous),
Thomas Jok (Multicultural),
Goy Lok (Multicultural),
Cedric Cox (Indigenous),
Francis Watson (Indigenous)
