Oakleigh Chargers coach Ash Close has a warning for defenders at 17 AFL clubs when they line up on talented, young Richmond forward Jasper Alger down the track . . .

“He’s going to kick goals on you in different ways. If you’re going to man up on him, you’ve got to be able to get it done in the air and on the ground. He’s fast, so he can get you on a hit-up, but he can also turn you around and get you on a ‘crumb’ or get you out the back,” Close said.

“That’s what’s really intriguing about Jasper.

“I think to be a good forward you want to have many different ways to kick goals, which Jasper has, which is pretty exciting.”

Alger, who turns 18 on December 17, was taken by the Tigers with their last of eight picks (No. 58 overall) at the 2024 national draft.

He debuted with Oakleigh Chargers this year, having previously played in the Coates Talent League for Gippsland Power.

Alger also made his senior debut with Warragul at just 15 years of age.

For the past couple of years, Alger played school football at Caulfield Grammar as well.

 “It was obvious to us pretty quickly that this kid had something special,” Close said.

“We didn’t know Jasper 12 months ago, so we were trying to figure out where his best position was . . . We put him up on a wing, which I think he has the physical attributes to play. But what we probably didn’t showcase was his ability to kick goals, and the ways that he can do that.

“I remember going to a Caulfield game once and seeing him play in front of the ball and thought, oh, he’s a forward.

“I just think that understanding Jasper, and starting to build that coach/player relationship, went a long way for his development . . . And once we found out that was really in front of the ball, we were pretty excited with what he did for the rest of the year.”