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- Jan 14, 2022
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2022 Pre-Season Update - Richmond Tigers
The Richmond Tigers reserves program yet again did not get the chance to back up its 2019 premiership glory and will hope that 2022 will be the year to finally go 'back-to-back'. The Tigers did not seem competitive enough to attempt the famous two in a row victory as they finished the season 11th with four wins, a draw, and five losses. Richmond has confirmed their 2022 squad as of pre-Christmas training. They have also confirmed their coach, and it’s a familiar face that will take over Xavier Clarke’s head coaching role of their VFL squad.Click each spoiler to find out more.
The Victorian Football League will return for the 2022 season on March the 26th and will continue to align closely with the Australian Football League Men's season for a 22 round season with each team taking 4 byes each. The Aspley Hornets are the only team to confirm their exit from the eastern coast competition with the remaining 21 clubs beginning to strengthen their sides for another run.
The salary cap has been increased by $20,000 for standalone teams to $220,000 while AFL and AFL-aligned clubs have received just a $10,000 boost to $110,000. The caps also introduce the ability to pay $10,000 of a playing coach's salary outside the cap while indigenous coaches implement a $5,000 concession.
The list size rules also remain pretty much identical to the 2021 rules with AFL affiliate clubs having a maximum of 30 players (15 development players, 15 primary listed players) while stand-alone clubs can have a total of 40 players on their lists (28 primary listed players, 12 development players).
The salary cap has been increased by $20,000 for standalone teams to $220,000 while AFL and AFL-aligned clubs have received just a $10,000 boost to $110,000. The caps also introduce the ability to pay $10,000 of a playing coach's salary outside the cap while indigenous coaches implement a $5,000 concession.
The list size rules also remain pretty much identical to the 2021 rules with AFL affiliate clubs having a maximum of 30 players (15 development players, 15 primary listed players) while stand-alone clubs can have a total of 40 players on their lists (28 primary listed players, 12 development players).
Steve Morris was the 2019 VFL premiership captain, continued his captaincy into 2021 and will now take over from Xavier Clarke and become the Victorian Football League’s first playing coach since David Teague played for the Northern Bullants in 2008. Morris, 32, will continue his playing career at the state league level while developing further as a coach after stepping up from a playing assistant coach role to a playing head coach role for the 2022 season.
Steve Morris was able to continue to have an impact for the Tigers over his six games in 2021 where he averaged 15.3 disposals and three tackles. He will be fantastic as a natural progression for the club that he has been part of since joining their AFL list at the end of the 2011 season. The AFL career of the leadership figure stretched to just 2017 before being delisted and he has been part of their reserves program ever since.
Xavier Clarke steps down from the coaching role and will instead focus on the club's AFL program full-time from 2021. Clarke has been part of the Richmond Tigers coaching staff after re-joining the AFL ranks in 2017 to support the midfield group.
Steve Morris was able to continue to have an impact for the Tigers over his six games in 2021 where he averaged 15.3 disposals and three tackles. He will be fantastic as a natural progression for the club that he has been part of since joining their AFL list at the end of the 2011 season. The AFL career of the leadership figure stretched to just 2017 before being delisted and he has been part of their reserves program ever since.
Xavier Clarke steps down from the coaching role and will instead focus on the club's AFL program full-time from 2021. Clarke has been part of the Richmond Tigers coaching staff after re-joining the AFL ranks in 2017 to support the midfield group.
Angus Hicks will continue into the new season under his new coach, captain, and teammate combination along with Brad Melville, Lachlan Street, Riley Loton, Nathan Oakes, Cam Olden, Dylan Cook, Joel Nathan, Bailey Henderson, Matt Bartlett, Nick Guiney, Fraser Elliot, and Sam Tucker as they put pen to paper and re-sign with the 2019 premiership team.
Lachlan Street was just one of two VFL-listed players to finish the season in the top 10 of the Richmond Tigers 'Guinane Medal', awarded to the clubs VFL best and fairest. In fact, Street finished as the runner-up to Will Martyn after impressing with his ball skills across 10 matches where he averaged 16.8 disposals. He was also able to find the scoreboard across the season with five goals overall but a two-goal game against Sandringham in round 11 highlighted his impressive season.
Although Riley Lotion (2 matches), Cam Olden (3), Nick Guiney (0), Fraser Elliot (2), and Sam Tucker (0) all managed less than half the season. The quintuple did enough to impress behind the scenes to return for another year.
Lachlan Street was just one of two VFL-listed players to finish the season in the top 10 of the Richmond Tigers 'Guinane Medal', awarded to the clubs VFL best and fairest. In fact, Street finished as the runner-up to Will Martyn after impressing with his ball skills across 10 matches where he averaged 16.8 disposals. He was also able to find the scoreboard across the season with five goals overall but a two-goal game against Sandringham in round 11 highlighted his impressive season.
Although Riley Lotion (2 matches), Cam Olden (3), Nick Guiney (0), Fraser Elliot (2), and Sam Tucker (0) all managed less than half the season. The quintuple did enough to impress behind the scenes to return for another year.
23-year-old, Tylar Young joins the list as a new-signing after switching from Frankston’s list as does Austin Johnson who spent half a year on their development list. Jackson Davies will also cross from Coburg to be among the list of Victorian state league transfers.
Young seems to be the most promising among the transfers as he joins with eight games of state league experience from 2021 but averaged just 8.1 disposals over those games.
The Richmond Tigers reserves program has also continued to connect with the NAB League through Tom Bracher (Murray Bushrangers), Massimo D’ambrosio (Western Jets), and Jess McGrath (Gippsland Power) while also still being able to find local league talent through the signing of Patrik Balta (Airport West), Mykelti Lefau (St Kilda City), and talented New Zealander, Misilifi Faimalo (St Kilda City).
Jackson Bowne also finds himself with a contract alongside Tom Brindley, Jack Scanlon (Gisborne), and Lachlan Carrigan (Sandringham Dragons) who will look to bounce back from an injury-hampered under 19s career. John Jorgenson will also join this trio after a solid year playing senior football for Bundoora alongside Jesse King.
Lachlan Johnson spent two seasons on Essendon’s AFL list developing as a player before being delisted at the end of 2021. Johnson joins with state league experience that includes 10 games in 2021, where he averaged 10.3 disposals. The Bourke name will also return to Richmond through Harrison Bourke.
Jack Sexton (Yarrawonga) trained with the Tigers VFL side in late 2021 before the season was shut down and will join the outfit for the full year in 2022 alongside Ali Saad and Mohammed Yassine who have spent time with the Bachar Houli foundation.
Young seems to be the most promising among the transfers as he joins with eight games of state league experience from 2021 but averaged just 8.1 disposals over those games.
The Richmond Tigers reserves program has also continued to connect with the NAB League through Tom Bracher (Murray Bushrangers), Massimo D’ambrosio (Western Jets), and Jess McGrath (Gippsland Power) while also still being able to find local league talent through the signing of Patrik Balta (Airport West), Mykelti Lefau (St Kilda City), and talented New Zealander, Misilifi Faimalo (St Kilda City).
Jackson Bowne also finds himself with a contract alongside Tom Brindley, Jack Scanlon (Gisborne), and Lachlan Carrigan (Sandringham Dragons) who will look to bounce back from an injury-hampered under 19s career. John Jorgenson will also join this trio after a solid year playing senior football for Bundoora alongside Jesse King.
Lachlan Johnson spent two seasons on Essendon’s AFL list developing as a player before being delisted at the end of 2021. Johnson joins with state league experience that includes 10 games in 2021, where he averaged 10.3 disposals. The Bourke name will also return to Richmond through Harrison Bourke.
Jack Sexton (Yarrawonga) trained with the Tigers VFL side in late 2021 before the season was shut down and will join the outfit for the full year in 2022 alongside Ali Saad and Mohammed Yassine who have spent time with the Bachar Houli foundation.
Garrett McDonagh headlines the exits from the VFL program as a successful graduate heading to Essendon's AFL program. As is Karl Worner as he heads west to Fremantle. Flynn Maguire has also seemed to depart after graduating from the Oakleigh Chargers program.
Garret McDonagh finished sixth in the VFL best and fairest and showed his worth to AFL recruiters after averaging 21 disposals across nine matches while Karl Worner didn't play for the Tigers, even though he was a listed player, but instead focussed on his NAB League season.
After a disappointing AFL season for Richmond's senior side, changes were made to their list. Mabior Chol, Callum Coleman-Jones, Noah Cumberland, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, Ryan Garthwaite, and Patrick Naish were regular’s in the 2021 VFL season but will no longer see themselves in the yellow and black sash.
Patrick Naish averaged 28.5 disposals over six matches and included three 30+ disposal games and his exit will leave a gap to fill that will hopefully be filled by Richmond's incoming AFL talent.
Garret McDonagh finished sixth in the VFL best and fairest and showed his worth to AFL recruiters after averaging 21 disposals across nine matches while Karl Worner didn't play for the Tigers, even though he was a listed player, but instead focussed on his NAB League season.
After a disappointing AFL season for Richmond's senior side, changes were made to their list. Mabior Chol, Callum Coleman-Jones, Noah Cumberland, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, Ryan Garthwaite, and Patrick Naish were regular’s in the 2021 VFL season but will no longer see themselves in the yellow and black sash.
Patrick Naish averaged 28.5 disposals over six matches and included three 30+ disposal games and his exit will leave a gap to fill that will hopefully be filled by Richmond's incoming AFL talent.
Summary
IN: Tylar Young (Frankston), Jackson Davies (Coburg), Tom Bracher (Murray Bushrangers), Misilifi Faimalo (St Kilda City), Jess McGrath (Gippsland Power), Mykelti Lefau (St Kilda City), Jackson Bowne, Tom Brindley, Lachlan Carrigan (Sandringham Dragons), Austin Johnson (Frankston), Lachlan Johnson (Essendon AFL), Jack Scanlon (Gisborne), John Jorgenson (Bundoora), Harrison Bourke, Jesse King (Bundoora), Jack Sexton (Yarrawonga), Ali Saad (Bachar Houli Foundation), Mohammed Yassine (Bachar Houli Foundation)OUT: Garrett McDonagh (Essendon AFL), Karl Worner (Fremantle AFL), Flynn Maguire
RE-SIGNED: Steve Morris, Angus Hicks, Brad Melville, Lachlan Street, Riley Loton, Nathan Oakes, Cam Olden, Dylan Cook, Joel Nathan, Bailey Henderson, Matt Bartlett, Nick Guiney, Fraser Elliot, Sam Tucker
