Preview Round 18 v Essendon MCG Saturday July 12th 7.35pm - Vlastuin 250th/Hotton Debut

[peternorth]

Richmond will play its ninth debutant of the season after Taj Hotton was named to play against Essendon.

Hotton was a top five fancy in last year’s draft before tearing his ACL and has played three VFL games since returning from the rehabilitation group.

Jayden Short

15

Jayden Short

Age

29

Ht

178cm

Wt

75kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

13.3

5star

HB

4.1

3star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.5

3star

MG

430.8

5star

D

19.0

4star

K

14.1

5star

HB

4.9

3star

M

6.3

5star

T

0.8

1star

MG

447.1

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

6.4

3star

HB

1.4

2star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.4

4star

MG

185.2

3star

, Jacob Koschitzke, Tylar Young and James Trezise have all returned, with the Tigers making mass changes.

Jacob Blight has been dropped, while Hugo Ralphsmith, Sam Lalor and Jasper Alger are injured.

Noah Balta

21

Noah Balta

Age

26

Ht

194cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

6.7

3star

HB

3.1

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.9

4star

MG

236.3

4star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

5.3

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.3

1star

MG

233.0

4star

D

7.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

217.4

4star

will miss because of his court-ordered curfew.

Taj Hotton, third from left, will make his debut on Saturday night. Picture: Michael Klein

You can see Smillies dodgy hammy from here. Taj tried to cover it up

 

[Hoos]

Sims has done stuff all last 6 games and one in the VFL Hum once again, Blight the scapegoat, and Green wasn't the worst.

No, he wasn't. Probably because he wasn't in the side.

He played VFL last week. Kicked 3.

 

[Grrr]

People have forgotten how bad kosi was when he was in the afl team. One good quarter and hes back in.

Blights gets a game after dominating consistently in the vfl and then gets dropped after a 1/2 games.

To be fair, Kosi has played well for quite a long time in the VFL, late last year and all of this. Has been playing back, but it has helped his marking confidence as he drops very few he goes for.

With such a young forward line you have to respect form and take some of the responsibility off the young guys. With Balta out we have turned to a player who is in good form, as it should be.

 

[Waca Jr]

Can confirm Godcus was an inch away from playing. Yze told him he wanted a full game in the 2s. Next week possible, but highly likely he is back from Collingwood game. His knee is feeling as good as it has apparently

 

[LTT]

Interesting decision regarding Blight I reckon. You can definitely make a case for Young's inclusion as his for has been great in the VFL, just a bit confused over the Blight decision.

I do realise you probably can't play them both in the same AFL side though.

The gap in Blights VFL performances versus his AFL performances though is far too great, probably the reason..

In the VFL he plays in a competitive side. We were lucky not to lose by 100 points so his performance was actually pretty good.

 

[tiger_tough]

Can confirm Godcus was an inch away from playing. Yze told him he wanted a full game in the 2s. Next week possible, but highly likely he is back from Collingwood game. His knee is feeling as good as it has apparently

 

[THE THIN MAN]

I can't wait to see the crap little ones run rings around our defense. Wright will score 6, Kaka will score 3, and a debutant will score 4, earning Man of the Match. As predicted, Short straight in, Hotton hopes he doesn't try too hard to impress and do something, Fonz? Kozzi ?Macca? Is this the rebuild? Sims has done stuff all last 6 games and one in the VFL Hum once again, Blight the scapegoat, and Green wasn't the worst.
Probably the Worst selected team of the year. Anyway, onwards and upwards we go

No, he wasn't. Probably because he wasn't in the side.

He played VFL last week. Kicked 3.

Player by player VFL report: Round 15

An insight into how each player performed in Richmond’s VFL come from behind win against Geelong.

www.richmondfc.com.au

 

[LTT]

Seeing a lot questioning Sonsie.

17 disposals
88% efficiency (equal 4th)
5 score involvements
5 contested possessions
3 tackles

No one gets dropped for that.

Yes there were a couple of contests he could have gone in harder for, but he has been one of our best users.

We complain about how much hopper and Taranto butcher the ball but then also want to drop the guy who hits targets.

Add MacIntosh to that list of butchers yet half the campaigners on here are happy to pick him every week.

 

[Groupie_]

You can see Smillies dodgy hammy from here. Taj tried to cover it up

needs another week

 

[voorhees]

Can confirm Godcus was an inch away from playing. Yze told him he wanted a full game in the 2s. Next week possible, but highly likely he is back from Collingwood game. His knee is feeling as good as it has apparently

risky game were playing with...
Josh has missed a hell off alot of footy.
Would rather be conservative, then rush him back.
Would rather slowly ramp up his game time in the VFL.

 

[LTT]

Stats lie.
put any pressure on this pretender and he will cough the ball up.

IMO you cannot judge Sonsie fairly unless you understand Sonsie's role in the side. From what i see, he and Ross seem to be the coach's choice as the connection players who kick the ball inside the 50-metre arc. Not the long kick to the pack but a precise kick to a player. This is probably one of the hardest roles to do well. Ross is actually pretty good at it which is why I find it strange they are now playing him more midfield. I'm not sold on Sonsie playing that role yet as he seems to get the ball too deep, but I can see that he is trying to master it.

 

[Cherki]

View attachment 2363065

View attachment 2363076

Reid has played about five good games in his career. Caldwell is good. The rest are barely AFL standard.

 

[LTT]

Out: Balta (curfew) Ralphsmith(inj) Lalor(inj) Alger(inj) Blight (omit)
In: Hotton Short Trezise Koschitzke Young

View attachment 2364373

Essendon's strength is their midfield clearance and we pick the same midfield who at best breaker even getting the ball at clearance then immediately turn it over. Blight is probably secretly happy he hasn't been picked in defence this week because Essendon are going to get a lot of forward entries this week. The question I have every week is why our midfield never changes.

 

[wegetpumped]

No, he wasn't. Probably because he wasn't in the side.

He played VFL last week. Kicked 3.

Yeah meant from the ins he wasn't 2 bad in the vfl for this week alger down you would think he would have come in for him.

 

[wegetpumped]

View attachment 2364721

Player by player VFL report: Round 15

An insight into how each player performed in Richmond’s VFL come from behind win against Geelong.

www.richmondfc.com.au

Yeah should have been straight swap with alger

 

[Corzer]

Essendon's strength is their midfield clearance and we pick the same midfield who at best breaker even getting the ball at clearance then immediately turn it over. Blight is probably secretly happy he hasn't been picked in defence this week because Essendon are going to get a lot of forward entries this week. The question I have every week is why our midfield never changes.

Hotton says hi

But also, it’s to protect and not completely break the young guys

 

[ShereKhan]

Essendon's strength is their midfield clearance and we pick the same midfield who at best breaker even getting the ball at clearance then immediately turn it over. Blight is probably secretly happy he hasn't been picked in defence this week because Essendon are going to get a lot of forward entries this week. The question I have every week is why our midfield never changes.

MRJ played midfield last week. McCauliffe was playing midfield before injury. Lalor played as much midfield as his tank was allowing before injury struck. Hotton and Smillie haven't played yet.

I believe Prestia will get one more season in 2026, Macca will retire end of this season, and if we have all our elite midfield kids up and firing end of 2026, then I wouldn't be surprised if one of TT or Hopper and the club come to an amicable agreement to part ways. So by start of 2027 I'd expect only one of TT, Hopper, Macca and Prestia to be on the list.

If multiple youngsters are injury riddled throughout 2026 then we may happily retain both TT and Hopper.

There seems to be so much impatience....by start of 2027 our midfield (except TT) will all be 19-22yo, with McCauliffe the oldest at 22yo (others will be Lalor, Smillie, Hotton, Armstrong (NGA pick) and top-5 pick from 2025 draft).

Our list build is tracking beautifully.

 

[Groupie_]

bummers preview thread 3 pages

invested supporter base

 

[HumanMeatball]

Blight one dimensional but a better intercept mark. Young a better defender and more versatile but a worse ball user.

= In (GIBCUS)

 

[Julio Dulio]

I can't wait to see the crap little ones run rings around our defense. Wright will score 6, Kaka will score 3, and a debutant will score 4, earning Man of the Match. As predicted, Short straight in, Hotton hopes he doesn't try too hard to impress and do something, Fonz? Kozzi ?Macca? Is this the rebuild? Sims has done stuff all last 6 games and one in the VFL Hum once again, Blight the scapegoat, and Green wasn't the worst.
Probably the Worst selected team of the year. Anyway, onwards and upwards we go

So are you saying we shouldn’t play the older guys or shouldn’t play the younger ones?

 

[Grechy]

Real chance of winning this one.

Bombers dropping Perkins is a bit of a statement.

 

[tiger_tough]

Blight one dimensional but a better intercept mark. Young a better defender and more versatile but a worse ball user.

= In (GIBCUS)

Young is a good kick

 

[tropicaltiger]

You can see Smillies dodgy hammy from here. Taj tried to cover it up

pocket billiards anyone ? Sam seems to think it's a good idea

 

[voorhees]

Blight one dimensional but a better intercept mark. Young a better defender and more versatile but a worse ball user.

= In (GIBCUS)

in time...yes
Got to give Gibcus time to knock the rust off and hold 100% confidence in his knee.

 

[LC_15]

Final order of business - Hotton must not be named sub farkin

He will be farkin....why you kick my dog and call him fck off