One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on January 04, 2026, 04:12:18 AM
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Richmond 2026 season preview: Tigers hoping to take another step forward under Adem Yze
The Tigers defied the doubters last year, but 2026 is a new ball game. See who’s tipped for a breakout season, who’s playing for a contract, the best 23 and plenty more.
HeraldSun
3 Jan 2026
Some experts tipped a rebuilding Richmond to go winless in 2025.
But Adem Yze’s side defied the doubters to secure a memorable round one win – the first of five victories in a promising campaign.
More young talent has since arrived through the draft and the club will be looking to take another step forward in 2026.
WHO’S TIPPED FOR A 2026 BREAKOUT?
A top-10 draft pick who showed plenty in his debut season, Josh Gibcus has had a cruel injury run.
Hamstring troubles and a ruptured ACL have restricted him to just three senior games over the past three years.
However, the 22-year-old key defender is enormously talented and is eyeing a big 2026.
Gibcus returned for a final-round clash with Geelong last season – his first AFL appearance in 527 days.
He recorded six spoils and didn’t lose a one-on-one contest in that match, which provided a small slice of what might be on the horizon for 2026.
INS AND OUTS
IN: Sam Cumming (No. 7 draft pick), Sam Grlj (No. 8 draft pick), Zane Peucker (No. 31 draft pick), Noah Roberts-Thomson (No. 54 draft pick), Patrick Retschko (trade, Geelong)
OUT: Tylar Young (trade, West Coast), Jacob Bauer (delisted), Jacob Blight (delisted), Mate Colina (delisted), Thomson Dow (delisted), Jacob Koschitzke (delisted), Kamdyn McIntosh (delisted)
WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?
Maurice Rioli produced some exciting moments in 2025, including his amazing run-down tackle against West Coast in round 19.
But as much as he can pile on some pressure at times, he needs to find more footy on a more consistent basis if he is going to be a senior regular in the long term.
Rioli averaged only 8.5 disposals and 0.4 goals across his 13 games in 2025, going goalless in nine matches.
The small forward role isn’t an easy one, but with greater competition for spots Rioli will need to lift his output.
LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT
Dion Prestia, Hugo Ralphsmith, Jack Ross, James Trezise, Jasper Alger, Josh Gibcus, Judson Clarke, Kaleb Smith, Liam Fawcett, Maurice Rioli, Mykelti Lefau, Nathan Broad, Nick Vlastuin, Oliver Hayes-Brown, Rhyan Mansell, Steely Green, Toby Nankervis, Tom Lynch, Tyler Sonsie
COACH STATUS
Already contracted until the end of 2026, Adem Yze inked a two-year extension in November which will extend his tenure at Punt Rd until at least 2028.
The Tigers have been thrilled with the direction he is taking the side, the relationships he has built and his strategic mind.
The 2024 season was Yze’s first in charge.
POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED & WHO CAN FILL IT?
Kamdyn McIntosh played all 23 games last season, making one wing his own before the 31-year-old was delisted at season’s end.
But the Tigers have some options for those wing roles.
Luke Trainor impressed there in the second half of last season after shifting from defence, while Hugo Ralphsmith missed only one game he was available for after having his season bookended by injuries.
James Trezise is another player who has been used in that role, while Richmond acquired the hard-running Patrick Retschko from Geelong during the trade period.
BURNING QUESTION
Can the Tigers improve and evolve their midfield?
Richmond ranked 18th in the competition for inside-50 differential last season and 17th for both clearance differential and points from stoppages differential.
Can youngsters such as Sam Lalor, Josh Smillie, Sam Cumming and Sam Grlj give the Tigers a different look around the ball and help improve those numbers?
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-2026-season-preview-tigers-hoping-to-take-another-step-forward-under-adem-yze/news-story/0776d73c00ec908e864b038d254df478