Track Watch: Armstrong kicks 5, Taranto 4, Hotton stars in match simBy Richmond Media
Feb 13, 2026, 2:34 pmIt was a busy week of work at the Swinburne Centre, which was capped off by the biggest match simulation of the pre-season thus far, on Friday morning.
Friday’s match simulation mimicked an actual game day, with the team completing similar warm-ups and meetings that they will do come Round 1 at the MCG.
The intensity matched the occasion, with the match simulation comprising three 20-minute, plus time-on, quarters.
The starting midfield for the black team was Toby Nankervis in the ruck, alongside Sam Lalor, Jack Ross and Jacob Hopper, while the yellow team had Ollie Hayes-Brown in the ruck, with Tim Taranto, Taj Hotton and Sam Cumming.
Tyler Sonsie, Hugo Ralphsmith, Patrick Retschko and Kane McAuliffe started on the wings.
If there was a theme of the day, it was pace and quickness, with Richmond’s injection of speed on full display.
Hotton starred through the midfield in a best-on-ground performance, bursting out of stoppage, weaving through traffic, and making smart decisions throughout the entire game.
The No. 10 has been mentioned as a player who could play more in the middle this year, and if Friday’s session is any indication, there are plenty of reasons for the Tiger Army to get excited.
Sam Grlj, Seth Campbell and Sam Banks generated plenty of quick movement across the ground. Campbell spent periods of the match through the midfield, and his pace was evident, while Grlj and Banks were unmissable coming off the halfback line.
Banks’ precision kicking led to a beautiful ball being delivered to Jasper Alger in the pocket for a scoring opportunity.
Grlj showed more than his speed, with a calm composure displayed when transitioning the ball out of defensive 50, and a contested mark taken deep in the back 50. The draftee also intercepted a ball in the attacking half, before just missing a shot from outside 50.
Taranto revealed earlier this week that he is working on the balance of playing midfield and forward, saying “hopefully I can go forward and kick a few goals”.
On Friday, the reigning Jack Dyer Medallist did exactly that, maintaining his excellent output in the middle while kicking four majors.
Taranto took a stunning one-handed grab in the pocket around 45 metres out in the second quarter, and the superstar Tiger went back and slotted the goal without any trouble. He also booted the first goal of the contest, a snap from a clearance around 35-40 metres out.
Speaking of goals, Harry Armstrong put in a five-star, five-goal performance.
The athletic forward scored in a variety of ways, including from a crumb after working his way into an ideal front-and-centre position off a contest deep in the forward 50, off of snaps, and converting after strong marks in the attacking zone.
Ross and Lalor combined for the first clearance of the game, displaying their strong connection in the middle.
Hayes-Brown also showcased clean skills throughout the day, including some impressive handballs to outside runners.
Cumming and Hotton linked-up for a quick clearance, penetrating the ball forward to Maurice Rioli and Mykelti Lefau, with the No. 42 finishing the passage of play with a major.
Lefau’s energy was contagious throughout the game, including a skillful gather and snap goal at the beginning of the third quarter. Lefau also took a one-handed grab and converted with a goal, an insight into his innate talents. He finished with four goals.
Zane Peucker’s goal sense and smarts were on display throughout the morning, as he consistently got himself into dangerous positions inside 50. He was rewarded with a clever goal via a soccer-kick on the goal line and a snapping goal from around 40 metres out, a ball kicked with confidence and conviction.
Nankervis delivered an inspirational goal for the black team, roving the ball to himself from an inside 50 centre clearance, driving his side to mount a mid-quarter comeback.
The perfect timing of Campbell Gray’s spoils were a feature throughout, as the key defender’s impressive pre-season continued.
Both Sonsie and Hopper moved to find space when there seemingly wasn’t any in the attacking 50 deep in the first term, leading to a Sonsie set-shot goal.
Other noteworthy link-up passages of play throughout the middle of the ground came from Hotton-McAuliffe-Hayes-Brown, and Jayden Short-Nick Vlastuin-Ralphsmith-Jonty Faull.
Some individual moments of brilliance included a James Trezise high-flying mark over Armstrong, a crunching Ross tackle on Cumming inside 50, Retschko forcing a forward-half intercept and Ross booming a goal from outside 50.
The highlight reel was rolling in the second quarter, with Campbell selling plenty of candy on his way to a goal that would have gotten the Punt Road End at the MCG on their feet.
Hotton’s vertical leap was on full display with a strong mark, which was matched by an equally as impressive grab from Alger deep in the forward pocket.
Defensive acts were also prominent, including a Ralphsmith smother and Noah Roberts-Thomson forcing a forward-half intercept, which led to an easy goal from Alger who booted the ball into the Brunton Avenue traffic.
Team black finished the game in style, with a 55-metre goal from Short, and a selling the candy goal from Faull, capping off a 13.18 (96) to 12.8 (80) victory.
Earlier in the week, a gloomy Melbourne Monday didn’t dampen the spirits of the playing group, who took to the track full of energy.
Ralphsmith was showing off his speed along the wing during transitional play, as he builds his fitness ahead of the home-and-away season.
Liam Fawcett and Lefau were cool, calm and collected in front of goal, while Short offered support and advice to Retschko, who was delivering the ball out of defensive 50.
Match simulation rounded up the session, with Ross starring across the three-quarters through the midfield, able to palm off his direct opposition and spin his way out of traffic to land the ball in front of goal.
He was followed closely by a confident Cumming, who strolled through the middle on multiple occasions, delivering the ball with ease to Faull and Armstrong.
Peucker was twisting his way out of trouble, while Alger was assured in his running around the half-forward line.
Gray and Josh Gibcus, defending at separate ends, were assertive in the air, ably supported by veteran Nathan Broad, who directed traffic alongside Vlastuin, to create opportunity coming out of the defensive half.
Hayes-Brown was leading the ruck all morning, as he also floated forward to help bring the ball to the deck, allowing Hotton to snap a goal in the second term.
Monday finished with a Super Bowl luncheon, as the group watched the Seahawks take down the Patriots.
The group returned to the Swinburne Centre on Wednesday, under hot and muggy conditions, starting off the session by hitting repetitive leads inside 50.
From there, it was straight into a multi-kick drill, working the ball around the oval, where Gibcus was running well, hitting up his targets with his sharp kicking skills.
The energy on the track was lifted by Short, bringing plenty of voice by keeping his teammates accountable to stay in position.
Sonsie and Tom Brown led the way on defence, competing at everything in the air, resulting in crunching spoils for their team.
Roberts-Thomson looked comfortable on the offensive team, showing composure with the ball and hitting his targets by foot. The draftee showed a willingness to take the game on and wasn't afraid to move the ball on fast.
Then the squad broke up into their respective line groups to hone in on specific skills. McAuliffe showed his increased speed at stoppage, bursting off the mark to pick up the ball cleanly from the ground and disposing of it effectively.
Role mastery was the final task of Wednesday's session. The forwards line took their positions for goal kicking, where Faull and Alger were slotting kicks from 35 meters out on a slight angle, with their form looking strong and consistent.
The Tigers will finally get the chance to test themselves against opposition next week, facing Essendon on Friday morning in a match simulation at the NEC Hangar.
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1953555/armstrong-kicks-5-taranto-4-hotton-stars-in-match-sim
