Ovens and Murray Football League midfielder Joe Richards is understood to have gained attention from at least four AFL clubs ahead of this month's National Draft.
Richards has emerged as a potential draft option for AFL sides following a dominant season with O&M club Wangaratta, where he ranked top 10 in the competition for disposals, kicks, tackles, score involvements, inside 50s, clearances and contested possessions while also booting 29 goals from his 19 matches in 2022.
The 22-year-old was invited to the Victorian State Draft Combine, where he polled strong scores for the standing and running vertical jump tests.
Sure to be among the small handful of mature-age options that could land an AFL list spot, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Geelong and Sydney have all been linked to Richards ahead of the draft, perย The Border Mail.
A notable name that has worked with Richards this year is former Collingwood defender and premiership player Ben Reid, who took on player-coachig duties with Wangaratta this year.
Speaking to the publication, Reid said it was exciting to see Richards gaining attention from the top flight.
"He's a man around town at the moment," Reid said. "I think Joey just needs the opportunity.
"If he gets the opportunity, he's the sort of kid that will take it with both hands and give it everything he's got.
"That's really what anyone wants, an opportunity, so hopefully he gets that when the Draft comes around and his name gets called out.
"We're all really hoping he gets an opportunity and that's basically where it is at the moment."He's in a funny position now where he's just got to wait and see and just hope his name gets called out."
Last year Collingwood roled the dice on VFL defender Charlie Dean through the Rookie Draft following his stellar season with Williamstown.
The 2022 National Draft will commence on Monday, November 28 - running across two nights.
