Jacob Blight [merged]

[one-eyed]

Flexible Blight right up for the fight

Adem Yze was impressed with how Blight adapted to the switch of roles.

“It sort of forced our hand with (Jack) Lukosius out of the (Port Adelaide) team through injury ...  we were a little bit tall in our back end. So, we had that thought that we might have to do it,” Yze said in his post-game press conference.

“Blighty’s just an amazing athlete. He’s got a massive tank, he’s obviously a big boy.

“He did what he could around stoppage and then used his strengths around the ground – that’s his engine and big frame.

“It was his mindset and attitude to go and do that for his teammates, and he did it really well.”

“So, we might have found something with Blighty, which will be handy throughout the year.”

Blight, for his part, thoroughly enjoyed the change.

“It was a way to add a string to the bow,” Blight said.

I thought I was doing alright in the backline, but as long as it’s an AFL jumper, and I can play for Richmond, I’ll play anywhere.

“It was good fun . . . I wish I’d kicked a little bit straighter, it would have been a pretty nice day.

“As long as it’s an AFL Richmond game, I’ll be happy . . .

“I’ll be out there, I’ll be competing 110 percent. So, as long as I can play, then I’m ready to go, anywhere.”

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1738960/jacob-blight-up-for-the-fight-round-2

[Andyy]

'I thought I was doing alright in the backline, but as long as it’s an AFL jumper, and I can play for Richmond, I’ll play anywhere.'

'As long as it’s an AFL Richmond game, I’ll be happy . . .'

 

[Tiger Khosh]

What a guy

[WilliamPowell]

TIGER TO HIT TRIGGER
JACOB Blight is set to hit a trigger to secure another contract at Richmond this Saturday night against Essendon at the MCG.   

After playing the first five games of 2025, Blight had to bide his time in the VFL but the West Australian has been recalled for the past two games against Adelaide and Geelong. 

The 23-year-old played three games in the second half of last year after being selected from Peel Thunder with pick No.2 in the 2024 Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

Blight earned an opportunity in the AFL after strong form in the WAFL, where his state game showing against the SANFL ahead of the Mid-Season Rookie Draft sealed his passage to the next level.

Richmond has had to cope without premiership backman Noah Balta at different times this year, while young defender Josh Gibcus has only just returned in the VFL from a knee reconstruction. 

Blight arrived at Punt Road on a six-month contract, then signed a one-year deal last September. Now he is set to land an extension for 2026. – Josh Gabelich

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1360076/inside-trading-dog-earns-new-deal-breakout-saint-still-waiting-swan-keen-to-go-on

[Diocletian]

Reid steak knives.

[one-eyed]

Richmond Tigers coach Adem Yze claims he didn’t know star Jacob Blight needs one game to trigger new contract

West Australia
18 July 2025

Richmond coach Adem Yze claims he was not aware out-of-favour West Australian Jacob Blight is only one game away from triggering a contract extension for 2026 as he continues to be overlooked.

Blight has played seven games for the Tigers this year and earned a brief recall earlier this month before finding himself dropped back to the VFL.

It is understood Blight will trigger a contract for a third year at the club if he plays one more game.

His omission last week came despite the 23-year-old collecting 17 disposals and seven rebounds in his most recent appearance for the Tigers in round 17 against Geelong.

Blight went back to the VFL last week and was the best on ground for Richmond in a loss to Southport, racking up 23 disposals, 11 intercept possessions and 16 marks to earn four coaches votes — the most of anyone in his team.

Yze claimed he didn’t know Blight needed to play only one more game this year to trigger a contract extension for 2026.

“I didn’t know that. If he’s playing well enough he will (get another opportunity),” he said.

“He’s one of the boys that travelled this weekend. If he warrants selection, he’ll get that opportunity.”

Blight’s performance for the Tigers reserves side earned high praise from VFL coach Jake Batchelor.

“(Blight had a)strong aerial presence for majority of the day, he took some great intercept marks,” he told the club website.

However, he was only named as an emergency to take on the last-placed West Coast at Optus Stadium on Saturday night in a surprising selection move for last year’s wooden spooners.

The West Australian understands Blight needs to play only one more game this year to trigger a contract for a third season.

Asked why Blight had been unable to break into his four-win side despite his form, Yze said: “He broke into the team for a couple of weeks and now we’re looking at a different mix.

“Tyler Young was breaking the door down really so he come into the team and performed really well.

“We just wanted to look at a different mix in our back end and unfortunately he’s missed out. He’s travelled, he’s an emergency. He’s still around our best 22, when he gets his next opportunity hopefully he can hold it.”

Richmond fans are desperate to see Blight break into the struggling side and have turned to social media to voice their frustrations around his limited opportunity.

“How can such a well built, tall, athletic, straight kicking guy like Blight not be getting a game?,” Trevor Button posted on a Richmond fan page on stuff.

“Surely the forward line is screaming out for him. I’m seeing Mabior Chol revisited here. Oozing with talent but somehow not getting a game, gets picked up by another club and goes from strength to strength.”

Cody McInnes pushed for Blight to get a game ahead of stuff Ben Miller.

“Jacob Blight has already proven himself a better defender than Ben Miller and shown himself to be a threat forward with some of the best hands in the game,” he said.

“He is too good not to be in our 22 and it is simply a fault in coaching at this point that he is not getting games.

“The young talls have been underwhelming but I can understand persisting. But Yze has some made some pretty poor decisions.”

Blight has played 10 games for Richmond since he was plucked out of Peel Thunder in last year’s mid-season draft with pick No.2.

https://thewest.com.au/sport/richmond-tigers/richmond-tigers-coach-adem-yze-claims-he-didnt-know-star-jacob-blight-needs-one-game-to-trigger-new-contract-c-19389289

[Hard Roar Tiger]

At best, he’s a fringe senior player