Hotton brothers Unite
Olli Hotton, brother of Taj Hotton, has joined Richmond’s VFL ranks for 2026.
By Henry Milic, Richmond Media
Nov 7, 2025, 4:40 pm
Richmond's VFL program continues to go from strength to strength, with the signing of Olli Hotton for the 2026 season.
Older brother to AFL player Taj Hotton, Olli is set to make his own mark at the Swinburne Centre, looking to bolster the VFL team.
The 21-year-old admitted that reuniting with his younger brother in the yellow and black was a major draw card.
“It’s very exciting. That’s 99 per cent of the reason why I have come here,” Hotton told Richmond Media.
“We are very close, and we have had one year of proper footy together, and we loved our time.
“We played together really well, but hopefully I’m not playing with him at all next year, but it is very exciting to see.
“Travelling together sometimes and training together, running together, gym together, so I push him and he pushes me, and I know we will get a lot more out of it.”
After observing his brother’s first year at the elite level, Hotton engaged in discussions with Richmond’s recruiters about a potential move to the Club.
“I had a few chats with Taj, being here and loving his time so much, and everyone getting around him so much, and with Blair (Hartley) and (Adem) Yze talking to my parents a lot, it just started there,” Hotton said.
“They were asking what I was doing next year, and then dad floated the question and asked if there would be a chance that I could come down here and see what the opportunities would be like, both with VFL and AFL, and just see what would happen.
“It kind of just snowballed from there, and with my limited opportunity last season on the VFL list that I was at, I thought a fresh start would be good, and Richmond seemed like the best place to be.”
Adem Yze and Taj Hotton head to the Hotton household to let Taj's family know that he is debuting this weekend against Essendon.
Drafted with pick 35 in the 2022 national draft to St Kilda, Hotton boasts elite pace and silky handball skills, with the ability to impact through the midfield and hit the scoreboard up forward.
The Haileybury product compared his game to that of his brothers, both impactful players who bring speed and contest.
“Similar to Taj, there are definitely similar traits, but I think he is a bit more zippy, side to side, whereas I’m more straight line with speed,” Hotton said.
“We are a similar player, inside, clean hands in the contest, I can do my thing in there and try to burst forward and if I can hit the scoreboard, which is my main impact.”
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1926247/hotton-brothers-reunite
