AFL Track Watch: All the match simulation standouts at RichmondJosh Barnes and Lachlan McKirdy
HeraldSun
January 24, 2026Gun Tiger Sam Lalor has laid down a pre-season marker, dominating match simulation in a pure midfield role as forward Maurice Rioli also shone.
Lalor played solely in the centre during an hour of match play on Friday morning and collected at least five centre clearances and slotted a beautiful set shot from the boundary in front of the Punt Rd traffic.
The 2024 No.1 pick was a standout on the inside and out and appears primed for an inside midfield role after playing 11 games, largely at half-forward in his debut year.
Having finished last season with a serious hamstring injury, there were no limits on Lalor’s game time as the Tigers played three periods.
Rioli played at half-forward on the same team as Lalor, wearing black jumpers, and slotted two goals in an eye-catching display.
The 23-year-old has put on the biggest summer of his career to date and was notably fitter during the match as he won his own ball in the clinches and applied his trademark pressure, playing as a high half-forward.
In a game dominated by small forwards, draftee Noah Roberts-Thomson and second-year Tiger Jasper Alger shone.
No. 54 draft pick Roberts-Thomson’s ability to find holes in the forward line alongside classy and clean finishing was notable as he bagged two goals for the ‘black’ team.
Summer standout Seth Campbell was another strong performer at half-forward for the ‘white’ team, while Campbell Gray put his hand up in defence with a rock solid performance.
Josh Gibcus played deep defence alongside mainstay Ben Miller for the ‘white’ side and while he was subdued he got through the match as he builds towards a rare full pre-season.
Harry Armstrong had some promising moments as a deep forward for the ‘black’ team but few talls had impact on the contest.
Mykelti Lefau largely played in the ruck against Oliver Hayes-Brown, with regulars Toby Nankervis and Samson Ryan sitting out the match sim.
Hayes-Brown dominated the ruck taps against the smaller Lefau and was active around the ground while summer train-on Marcus Krasnadamskis had some time in the ruck,
Talented forward Taj Hotton had some moments dodging in and out of tackles, while Sam Grlj’s dash of half-back was notable and Patrick Retschko found plenty of the ball when moved to the wing.
SITTING OUTMost of the Richmond veterans stood out of the match sim, with Tom Lynch, Nathan Broad, Nick Vlastuin, Nankervis running laps, alongside Sam Banks and Jonty Faull.
On his way back from a hamstring injury, Hugo Ralphsmith started on the wing in the first quarter of match play before stepping out to complete running.
Luke Trainor was on track after copping a knock at training recently and was in a non-contact fluoro cap, and didn’t play, while Kaleb Smith played in a fluoro lid.
Watching on was 165-game Tiger Nick Daffy as his son Archie played at half-forward while the potential father-son gets a taste of AFL training.
Jack Leys, son of 110-game player Brian, was also on the field and had a purple patch running off half-back in the second period of the game.
Former No.7 pick Josh Smillie trained away from the group as he builds up from a serious quad injury, with the youngster on track to return to training early in February.
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/all-the-news-and-standouts-as-charie-curnow-makes-his-mark-during-sydney-swans-match-sim/news-story/ecc35b93d2768f4be9464b60f1131852
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