Richmond mature-aged recruit Sam Lloyd has praised the Club’s playing leaders for helping him achieve his AFL debut last Friday night.

The 24-year-old singled out the support of Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio and Jack Riewoldt in fast-tracking his development since arriving at the Club late last year.

Lloyd kicked three goals and collected 22 disposals in his first game in the Yellow and Black, against Collingwood in Round 4.

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He said Riewoldt, in particular, has steered him on the right course, both on the off the field.

“Even though Jack’s out of the leadership group, he’s been very influential to me as a forward, and he’s really helped me with my progress through the pre-season,” Lloyd said.

“He’s very good as a leader out on the field, as well as inside here, and he’s full of talk, which helps me as well.

“I got a bit lost out there every now and then, and he put me on the right track, which was fantastic.”

Lloyd arrived at Richmond as a local football journeyman, and a recognised sharpshooter, but quickly worked on the defensive aspects of his game to fit in with the Tigers’ structure.

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And while he was pleased with his first-up performance, he recognises there’s no time to sit back and admire his work for too long.

“I worked hard in the pre-season to get as fit as I could, and the main thing I’ve been working on is to play the kind of game plan we want to play,” he said.

“If I can keep up what I did on Friday night, and definitely work more on my pressure, I think I’ve got a lot to give the Tigers going forward.

“You don’t get a game these days unless you’ve got that forward pressure.

“I certainly haven’t cemented my spot.  It’s going to be a week-by-week thing, and I’m more than well aware that I have to continue to do what I did on Friday night.

“It’s a pretty cut-throat industry.  You can get out of the side as quick as you got in.”