Player Watch #24 Sam Grlj

[Roachy8]

I was very impressed with his debut. Wasn't a fan of using a low pick on a hbf on draft night and was caught up in the robey hype like most. I hope he continues to prove me wrong. His daring runs, composure and disposals were pretty awesome to see. He's fit so hopefully can get 18+ games into him this year. Hopefully the coaches encourage him to keep backing himself in and keep taking the game on.

He reminded me of a young Stuart Maxfield, if only Ralphsmith swept up his hair we could transplant it on Gorilla and it would be uncanny.

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Loved Stewie Maxfield - someone remind me - what did we got when he went to Sydney and helped build that club?

 

[THE_GUN]

If he has a really good debut season,
I'm advocating for him to get the number 9.

He has got that Cotch look about him.

#9 is allocated for Hayley Reid

Grlj will have to wait for #1

 

[Calcium Man]

#9 is allocated for Hayley Reid

Grlj will have to wait for #1

 

[richoplzbreed]

Loved Stewie Maxfield - someone remind me - what did we got when he went to Sydney and helped build that club?

We got a sum total of zero for both Maxfield and Lambert. These days both would cost 2 x 1st rounders each or a top 3 pick each. Club was run poorly back then. If our 95 side had Tony Free, Lambert and Richo im convinced we would've won the flag easily.

 

[Rich01]

He’s the upgraded 2.0 version zak butters wishes he was

will be our next star mid calling it now

If he can win his own ball in the middle he’ll be an elite mid.

Play him off half back for a dozen games, then transition him to the wing where he can potentially have some scoreboard impact.

From there, let’s see.

 

[clark1980]

I knew from training video's and preseason games about his speed and lateral movement. I was really happy with his kicking. I think his 1st kick was a kick in. and there was one where he kicked it 50 and hit the player on the wing( I forget who) who was under pressure, on the chest without braking stride. nice !!

 

[Joey longshadow]

Loved him to the moment was headlines in Sunday press he was off to swans , was shattered , my fav player was boofa. Remember running into him at darbys one night back when Peter Wilson was playing with us

Yeah..I chatted to him a few times at the London tavern in Caulfield in 1995..his missus at the time introduced me to him ..nice bloke ..pretty quiet ..yeah i was gutted when he went to the Swans

 

[KrispyKreme]

#9 is allocated for Hayley Reid

Grlj will have to wait for #1

Harley ain’t coming lol. I know he’s happy at the moment

 

[Buddy Tambling]

Watching tonight’s fast paced game makes me so happy we drafted this bloke. Geez he’s going to suit the modern game

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Is he injured yet?!

 

[Truetiger]

Page 2: Terrible. What do we make of his game?

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Surrounded by pensioners & a turkey.
Was to be expected coming up against a contender compared too last week.
Still took the game on.

 

[Daka]

Page 2: Terrible. What do we make of his game?

I thought he was okay far from our worst not as good compared to his first game, but was playing against a better team.

 

[Aido97]

Surrounded by pensioners & a turkey.
Was to be expected coming up against a contender compared too last week.
Still took the game on.

Spent a fair bit of time on Lombard who did nothing but unfortunately neither did Sam. Seen a lot worse from a second gamer and loved that he has defensive intent

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Spent a fair bit of time on Lombard who did nothing but unfortunately neither did Sam. Seen a lot worse from a second gamer and loved that he has defensive intent

His step in tackle on Petracca trying to crash through him from a centre bounce breakaway early q1 was magnificent, and was rapidly followed up with a second excellent tackle in the same passage of play.

Watch from around 2 minutes into this replay video:

Match Replay: Richmond v Gold Coast

The Tigers and Suns clash in round two of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

www.afl.com.au

Watch where Grlj came from to make that tackle. His mere presence in the space startled Petracca who had plenty of time to assess the situation. I thought that was a really high calibre piece of play from Grlj that you might not notice in a live viewing because he doesn't have the ball in his hand. It certainly impressed me.

 

[lalorGOAT]

His step in tackle on Petracca tryig to crash through him from a centre bounce breakaway early q1 was magnificent, and was rapidly followed up with a second excellent tackle in the same passage of play.

Watch from around 2 minutes into this replay video:

Match Replay: Richmond v Gold Coast

The Tigers and Suns clash in round two of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

www.afl.com.au

Watch where Grlj came from to make that tackle. His mere presence in the space startled Petracca who had plenty of time to assess the situation. I thought that was a really high calibre piece of play from Grlj that you might not notice in a live viewing because he doesn't have the ball in his hand. It certainly impressed me.

How the **** wasn't it holding the ball......

 

[_RT_]

Page 2: Terrible. What do we make of his game?

Not as attacking as the Carlton game, but showed his ability to play defensively accountable footy. Still had a couple of moments where he provided a bit of rebound.

 

[THE_GUN]

When are we expecting his injury ?

 

[fargothegreat]

Loved his little cameo in the midfield at the end of the game. His speed and agility stood out in there in a similar way to Hotton.

Needs to given a bit more of a go in there over the coming weeks.

 

[cheo]

Loved his little cameo in the midfield at the end of the game. His speed and agility stood out in there in a similar way to Hotton.

Needs to given a bit more of a go in there over the coming weeks.

Do you think we will see him trialed in the midfield in the coming weeks?

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Loved his little cameo in the midfield at the end of the game. His speed and agility stood out in there in a similar way to Hotton.

Needs to given a bit more of a go in there over the coming weeks.

I'd like to see him spend the year across half back, like North did with Sheezel and Collingwood did with Nick Daicos in their first seasons.

He'll eventually get into the midfield, probably next season.

 

[Punt Road Feral]

I'd like to see him spend the year across half back, like North did with Sheezel and Collingwood did with Nick Daicos in their first seasons.

He'll eventually get into the midfield, probably next season.

Agreed.
Happy for the coaches to put him in the middle with 10 mins left when the game was well and truly gone (like they did this w/e).

Also you know within reason he's not going to be battered by the seasoned opposition midfielders when the sting is out of the game too.

 

[tropicaltiger]

Is he injured yet?!

 

[Hydatina Physis]

If he does get injured I'm coming for Jak.

 

[fargothegreat]

Do you think we will see him trialed in the midfield in the coming weeks?

Yeah, but probably only small cameos once the heat has gone out of games.