Club takeawaysJack Jovanovski, Ben Cotton and Catherine Healey
Fox Sports
February 22nd, 2026Foxfooty.com.au analyses what we learned about all 18 teams from the match simulations.
RICHMONDResult: 50-point loss to Essendon (68-118)
What we learned: Well, for starters — even though it’s an unofficial practice match — after looking like a smooth-moving half-back ball movement machine, the Tigers were completely shut down after quarter-time on Friday.
The Bombers cut off Richmond’s switch avenues out of defence and pressured it into mistakes, with a seven-goal-to-one Essendon second quarter blowing the game wide open.
But it’s hard to take away anything absolutely concrete from the result, with both sides resting most of their stars after half-time.
But Sam Lalor was tantalising in the early stages, rising to mark inside 50, having drifted forward from the centre ball-up — of which he attended plenty in the first half. The former No.1 pick was clean and comfortable in possession, and most importantly, he got through unscathed in what’s been a careful yet complete pre-season for the young star after hamstring issues hampered his rookie campaign.
Sam Grlj, the eighth overall pick last November, was arguably the most impressive Richmond youngster, exhibiting his daring dash and adept decision-making exiting defence. An accurate slicing kick into the corridor from defence was one of a handful of exciting acts, as well as a well-placed kick inside 50 late in the first term set up fellow top-10 pick Sam Cumming’s first unofficial Richmond goal.
Cumming, meanwhile, got better as the game went on, benefitting from more centre ball-up attendances later in proceedings once the Tigers’ stars sat out.
Jack Ross, recently elevated into the club’s leadership group for the first time, was a consistent cool head out at Tullamarine and one of the Tiges’ better players on the day.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-match-sims-scores-results-2026-what-we-learned-about-every-club-after-match-simulation-practice-games-analysis-latest-news/news-story/665d780dcd0c8f93f76db99722a3e5bd
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