Predicted Round 1 sides after match simsDylan Bolch, Jack Jovanovski, Will Faulkner and Ben Waterworth
Fox Sports
February 19th, 2025RICHMONDB: N.Broad B.Miller N.Vlastuin
HB: T.Brown J.Blight J.Short
C: K.McIntosh J.Hopper S.Banks
HF: R.Mansell J.Bauer S.Lalor
F: S.Campbell T.Lynch M.Rioli
R: T.Nankervis T.Taranto D.Prestia
I/C: J.Ross, S.Green, S.Ryan, J.Koschitzke, J.Smillie
EMG: K.Smith, T.Dow, L.Fawcett
With key defender Noah Balta suspended four games to open the season after pleading guilty to assault following an incident in December and the luckless Josh Gibcus still sidelined, Jacob Blight slots into defence next to Ben Miller, with swingman Jacob Koschitzke’s lively pre-season earning him a spot in the side to begin the season.
Winger Hugo Ralphsmith has been ruled out of the early rounds of the 2025 AFL season after picking up a hamstring injury in Richmond’s match simulation, while Tom Brown also isn’t a certainty as he works his way back from a shoulder injury.
Spearhead Tom Lynch should be right to go for Round 1 provided he checks all boxes in his return from a bout of concussion, and Jacob Bauer and Samson Ryan, when he rests forward, seem likeliest to join him in leading the attack.
No. 1 pick Sam Lalor starred against the Eagles in match simulation with two goals before copping a nasty blow late. He was left with a hairline fracture of his jaw, but the Tigers remain hopeful he’ll be fit to face the Blues. If so, Lalor appears a near certainty to play in Round 1, but key forward duo Harry Armstrong and Tom Sims might be some time away from a debut.
Josh Smillie, who “hadn’t missed a beat” pre-Christmas, is targeting the Collingwood pre-season clash after dealing with a minor hamstring problem.
The ACL quintet of Judson Clarke, Mykelti Lefau, Tylar Young, Josh Gibcus and draftee Taj Hotton remain some way off, but Clarke is said to be the closest of the lot to a return.
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