2026 burning question: Which Tigers' 2024 recruits take the biggest leap? (Fox)

[one-eyed]

Every club’s Burning Question

Ben Cotton, Will Faulkner and Jack Jovanovski
Fox Sports
October 30th, 2025

It’s off-season mode now for all 18 clubs as planning for 2026 and beyond begins.

Every team faces it’s own unique set of circumstances. From those in flag contention, to others trying to make noise or setting themselves on the right path. And some clubs have bigger-picture priorities.

Foxfooty.com.au runs through the burning question for every club this off-season.

Tigers’ burning question: Which top 2024 recruit(s) take the biggest leap?

The development of Richmond’s top picks in last year’s draft varied greatly. Of the eight draftees, only two played more than half the season in Luke Trainor (21 games) and Jonty Faull (16). Trainor was consistent and exhibited his versatility playing a handful of different positional roles, but the Sandringham product needs to improve the competitive side of his game. Faull, meanwhile, inspired hope that he’s the future of Richmond’s key attack in the post-Tom Lynch era, displaying his competitiveness, agility and aerial ability. No.1 pick Sam Lalor’s promising debut campaign was cruelled by a serious hamstring injury, and if the club can manage that situation more delicately throughout next year, he should pop most as the tantalising midfield-forward weapon he flashed signs of becoming during his 11 games this year. Taj Hotton is the wildcard and could easily be the one who leaps highest in year two. The livewire shapes as the Tigers’ long-term answer to their Shai Bolton void as a lightly-built sparkplug who can damage forward of the ball but also go into the midfield in more than just a few stints and swing games. Arguably the biggest question mark is over Josh Smillie’s conditioning after last year’s no.7 pick wasn’t able to make his senior debut and managed just four VFL appearances.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2025-every-clubs-burning-question-this-offseason-analysis-state-of-play-for-all-18-clubs-stats-trade-period-draft-latest-news/news-story/856df8602b1c26e9388e1875819866cb

[the claw]

While it would be nice if they all took huge LEAPS its more about building blocks and incrementle improvement.

If all of the following can improve lets say  just 10% - 20%  and stay fit  Lalor, McAuliffe, Smillie, Hotton, Algar, Campbell, Smith Brown Faull, Sims, Armstrong Gray
and lets say our first two picks get more than half the games then we will improve.