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Richmond season 2025 preview:
The glory days of the Tigers are well and truly gone, now they are the young cubs.
After a tough first season at the helm, followed by a mass exodus of some senior players, what can Adem Yze do with all the talent at Tigerland?
SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024
Seth Campbell played 21 of the Tigers’ 23 matches, won the club’s best first-year player award and finished 11th in Jack Dyer Medal polling. It was a strong return for the rookie-listed small forward/midfielder who was drafted from Burnie and North Launceston in Tasmania, and spent most of his first season in 2023 recovering from an adductor injury and leg issues. Campbell, who debuted in Opening Round, averaged 11.3 disposals, 2.9 marks, 2.7 inside-50s, 3.7 score involvements and kicked 10 goals. The 19-year-old earnt high praise from Richmond development coach Sam Lonergan at the club’s best-and-fairest night. “He’s going to be a highlights package of energy and excitement,” Lonergan said. “And he’s got great work ethic, dedication, along with great spirit. I’d like to commend our recruiting team for the work they’ve done with finding an absolute gem in the rough. He’s going to be a long-term player and a key part of our future.”
INS AND OUTS
IN: Jasper Alger (No. 58 draft pick), Harry Armstrong (No. 23 draft pick), Jonty Faull (No. 14 draft pick), Taj Hotton (No. 12 draft pick), Sam Lalor (No. 1 draft pick), Thomas Sims (No. 28 draft pick), Josh Smillie (No. 7 draft pick), Luke Trainor (No. 21 draft pick)
OUT: Liam Baker (trade, West Coast), Shai Bolton (trade, Fremantle), Matthew Coulthard (delisted), Noah Cumberland (delisted), Jack Graham (free agent, West Coast), Dylan Grimes (retired), Dustin Martin (retired), Marlion Pickett (retired), Sam Naismith (retired), Daniel Rioli (trade, Gold Coast)
TIGERS' 2025 BEST 23
B: Nathan Broad, Noah Balta, Nick Vlastuin
HB: Tom Brown, Josh Gibcus, Jayden Short
C: Hugo Ralphsmith, Jacob Hopper, Kamdyn McIntosh
HF: Maurice Rioli Jr, Jonty Faull, Sam Lalor
F: Rhyan Mansell, Tom Lynch, Seth Campbell
FOLL: Toby Nankervis, Tim Taranto, Dion Prestia
I/C: Ben Miller, Sam Banks, Josh Smillie, Jacob Bauer, Thomson Dow
WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?
Tom Lynch’s seven-season deal expires at the end of 2025 and it will be interesting to see what happens next. At 32 and after two premierships with the Tigers, does the key forward sign a 12-month extension or head to a contender? Lynch’s immediate goal will be to get back on the park. The former Gold Coast Suns spearhead has played just four games in each of the past two campaigns due to injuries.
Adem Yze is entering the second season of his coaching career as his team undergoes a massive overhaul. The Tigers lost seven premiership players to other clubs or retirement at the end of the season while adding eight draftees, ensuring a very young squad in 2025 and very little pressure on the former Melbourne star. Richmond claimed the wooden spoon with a 2-21 record this year. Departed Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale expected Yze would take on more responsibility next season, telling the club’s Talking Tigers podcast in August the Richmond coach would “really start to put his fingerprints on the team”. “We think Adem’s extremely capable and I think he has carried himself really well,” Gale said. “He comes into a program that’s been successful, he’s followed a coach of historical standing (Damien Hardwick) and has got premiership players everywhere. I reckon he’s maybe sat back a little bit, coupled with an incredible, unprecedented run with injury. I reckon what you’ll see from Adem next year is a coach that takes a lot more responsibility.”
LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT
Sam Banks, Jacob Bauer, Jacob Blight, Tom Brown, Judson Clarke, Thomson Dow, Liam Fawcett, Campbell Gray, Steely Green, Oliver Hayes-Brown, Tom Lynch, Kamdyn McIntosh, Dion Prestia, Kaleb Smith, Tyler Sonsie, James Trezise, Tylar Young
POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?
Rioli’s move to Gold Coast opens a spot at half-back, where Sam Banks and Hugo Ralphsmith loom as players who can help fill the void. Banks did not miss a game after the Tigers’ bye this year, for a total of 15 last season, his third at AFL level. Tasmanian Banks featured in defence and on a wing in 2024, but was drafted as a half-back. Ralphsmith lined up in 18 matches this year and finished equal-16th in the best-and-fairest. While he featured regularly on a wing, he might be an option to move to defence with Rioli gone.
BURNING QUESTION
How many wins is realistic next season? Richmond’s two victories in Yze’s debut campaign as senior coach were against eventual grand finalist Sydney at the MCG by five points in round 5 and the Crows in Adelaide by eight points in round 15. Since then three of the top six in the Tigers’ best-and-fairest have departed and the squad has got a whole lot younger. Crows premiership captain Mark Bickley predicted Richmond would be winless in 2025. That seems unrealistic. It has not happened since Fitzroy in 1964 and similarly inexperienced teams in the AFL era have always notched at least one victory. In the club’s second season in 2013, GWS went 1-21. Three years later, an Essendon team missing 12 experienced players through doping violation suspensions had three wins. Strugglers North Melbourne and West Coast recorded two triumphs each in 2023. With premiership players like Toby Nankervis, Nathan Broad, Nick Vlastuin and Jayden Short still at Tigerlan
Richmond season 2025 preview:
The glory days of the Tigers are well and truly gone, now they are the young cubs.
After a tough first season at the helm, followed by a mass exodus of some senior players, what can Adem Yze do with all the talent at Tigerland?
SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024
Seth Campbell played 21 of the Tigers’ 23 matches, won the club’s best first-year player award and finished 11th in Jack Dyer Medal polling. It was a strong return for the rookie-listed small forward/midfielder who was drafted from Burnie and North Launceston in Tasmania, and spent most of his first season in 2023 recovering from an adductor injury and leg issues. Campbell, who debuted in Opening Round, averaged 11.3 disposals, 2.9 marks, 2.7 inside-50s, 3.7 score involvements and kicked 10 goals. The 19-year-old earnt high praise from Richmond development coach Sam Lonergan at the club’s best-and-fairest night. “He’s going to be a highlights package of energy and excitement,” Lonergan said. “And he’s got great work ethic, dedication, along with great spirit. I’d like to commend our recruiting team for the work they’ve done with finding an absolute gem in the rough. He’s going to be a long-term player and a key part of our future.”
INS AND OUTS
IN: Jasper Alger (No. 58 draft pick), Harry Armstrong (No. 23 draft pick), Jonty Faull (No. 14 draft pick), Taj Hotton (No. 12 draft pick), Sam Lalor (No. 1 draft pick), Thomas Sims (No. 28 draft pick), Josh Smillie (No. 7 draft pick), Luke Trainor (No. 21 draft pick)
OUT: Liam Baker (trade, West Coast), Shai Bolton (trade, Fremantle), Matthew Coulthard (delisted), Noah Cumberland (delisted), Jack Graham (free agent, West Coast), Dylan Grimes (retired), Dustin Martin (retired), Marlion Pickett (retired), Sam Naismith (retired), Daniel Rioli (trade, Gold Coast)
TIGERS' 2025 BEST 23
B: Nathan Broad, Noah Balta, Nick Vlastuin
HB: Tom Brown, Josh Gibcus, Jayden Short
C: Hugo Ralphsmith, Jacob Hopper, Kamdyn McIntosh
HF: Maurice Rioli Jr, Jonty Faull, Sam Lalor
F: Rhyan Mansell, Tom Lynch, Seth Campbell
FOLL: Toby Nankervis, Tim Taranto, Dion Prestia
I/C: Ben Miller, Sam Banks, Josh Smillie, Jacob Bauer, Thomson Dow
WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?
Tom Lynch’s seven-season deal expires at the end of 2025 and it will be interesting to see what happens next. At 32 and after two premierships with the Tigers, does the key forward sign a 12-month extension or head to a contender? Lynch’s immediate goal will be to get back on the park. The former Gold Coast Suns spearhead has played just four games in each of the past two campaigns due to injuries.
Adem Yze is entering the second season of his coaching career as his team undergoes a massive overhaul. The Tigers lost seven premiership players to other clubs or retirement at the end of the season while adding eight draftees, ensuring a very young squad in 2025 and very little pressure on the former Melbourne star. Richmond claimed the wooden spoon with a 2-21 record this year. Departed Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale expected Yze would take on more responsibility next season, telling the club’s Talking Tigers podcast in August the Richmond coach would “really start to put his fingerprints on the team”. “We think Adem’s extremely capable and I think he has carried himself really well,” Gale said. “He comes into a program that’s been successful, he’s followed a coach of historical standing (Damien Hardwick) and has got premiership players everywhere. I reckon he’s maybe sat back a little bit, coupled with an incredible, unprecedented run with injury. I reckon what you’ll see from Adem next year is a coach that takes a lot more responsibility.”
LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT
Sam Banks, Jacob Bauer, Jacob Blight, Tom Brown, Judson Clarke, Thomson Dow, Liam Fawcett, Campbell Gray, Steely Green, Oliver Hayes-Brown, Tom Lynch, Kamdyn McIntosh, Dion Prestia, Kaleb Smith, Tyler Sonsie, James Trezise, Tylar Young
POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?
Rioli’s move to Gold Coast opens a spot at half-back, where Sam Banks and Hugo Ralphsmith loom as players who can help fill the void. Banks did not miss a game after the Tigers’ bye this year, for a total of 15 last season, his third at AFL level. Tasmanian Banks featured in defence and on a wing in 2024, but was drafted as a half-back. Ralphsmith lined up in 18 matches this year and finished equal-16th in the best-and-fairest. While he featured regularly on a wing, he might be an option to move to defence with Rioli gone.
BURNING QUESTION
How many wins is realistic next season? Richmond’s two victories in Yze’s debut campaign as senior coach were against eventual grand finalist Sydney at the MCG by five points in round 5 and the Crows in Adelaide by eight points in round 15. Since then three of the top six in the Tigers’ best-and-fairest have departed and the squad has got a whole lot younger. Crows premiership captain Mark Bickley predicted Richmond would be winless in 2025. That seems unrealistic. It has not happened since Fitzroy in 1964 and similarly inexperienced teams in the AFL era have always notched at least one victory. In the club’s second season in 2013, GWS went 1-21. Three years later, an Essendon team missing 12 experienced players through doping violation suspensions had three wins. Strugglers North Melbourne and West Coast recorded two triumphs each in 2023. With premiership players like Toby Nankervis, Nathan Broad, Nick Vlastuin and Jayden Short still at Tigerlan
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