Richmond's VFL program has continued to deliver AFL talent, with the Tigers confident they'll 'keep pumping great players out into the system' in the years to come.
Each of the past several years have seen a product of Richmond's VFL program land on an AFL list, with the Tigers themselves giving senior opportunities to currently listed trio Mykelti Lefau, Tylar Young and James Trezise.
Hawks wingman Massimo D'Ambrosio - who was part of the 2024 All-Australian squad - spent time at Punt Road before being drafted by Essendon in 2021, and the Bombers plucked midfielder Sam Durham out of Richmond's reserves via the same mechanism 12 months prior.
Before being a Norm Goss Medal winner with Werribee, Geelong ace Shaun Mannagh spent time with the Tigers under Collingwood coach Craig McRae, while fellow state league star Ben Jepson getting his chance just this week with Gold Coast after working with Richmond in the past.
Last year's Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal winner Sam Davidson has been one of the shining lights of the club's VFL program in recent years, with the mobile forward drafted to the Western Bulldogs last November after a breakout season under ex-Tiger Steve Morris.
"I'm pretty biased. I love our VFL program. I'm pretty proud of what we've been able to achieve over a long period of time," Morris said.
"Ben Jepson got picked up by the Gold Coast sons yesterday in the SSP and spent a bit of time here at the footy club.
"I'm fairly strong on the fact that if you get good people around, and whether it's at AFL or VFL, good things will happen, and we've had some wonderful people.
"Sam Davidson's just another one of those. You've got [Mykelti Lefau] who speaks volumes for the type of people that we want as part of our VFL program. There are a few [training with us] today.
"I'm sure that we'll keep pumping some great AFL players out into the system in the coming years under Jake (Batchelor)."
Richmond have continued to strengthen the connection between their AFL and VFL squads, giving those from the state league to train with their senior squad.
Lefau was a common feature at Tigers training during Damien Hardwick's reign, with that same chance now being offered to the next wave of AFL hopefuls.
Key defender Mutaz El Nour has been on the radar of AFL clubs across his time at Punt Road and with the Northern Bullants before that, while fellow draft chance Sam Toner has linked up with the Tigers' VFL side after a breakout year with Narre Warren and the Dandenong Stingrays as an over-age talent.
VFL pair Harry Scott and Liam George have joined El Nour and Toner in training with the Tigers' top line this summer also.