Richmond Senior Development Coach Mark Williams expects goal sneak Sam Lloyd to fight his way back into the senior team in the back end of the 2014 season, if he maintains his recent form.

Lloyd has been developing his game with the Tigers’ VFL team in recent weeks, after an exciting first half of the season at AFL level.

After being recruited to the Club via VFL club Frankston, the 24-year-old made a stunning debut AFL debut in Round 4 against Collingwood, when he kicked three goals and gathered 22 disposals.

It kick-started a run of five games in the seniors, where he booted seven goals and averaged 4.5 tackles, 14 disposals and four marks per match.

Lloyd lost his spot in the team after the Round 9 loss to Melbourne, and returned to the VFL, where his form has steadily risen in the last month.

“Probably the expectation at the start of the year when you come to a new Club is to play a few games,” Williams told Roar Vision.

“With (Matt) White and (Robin) Nahas going, it gave him an opportunity to get into the side.

“It took a few games in the ‘twos’ to show his form, and probably build his fitness and his body shape in the right order to play AFL.  He worked really hard at that.

“In the games he played he showed some good stuff, but inconsistency with young players is typical.

“We hope that he can play at least half of the games for the rest of the year, and each week in the last few we’ve been talking about trying to get him back into the side.

“The path that he’s taken to get here, usually those sort of players are more resilient.  They’re more determined, and hopefully that leads to a long career.”