Richmond will get its first glimpse of Josh Smillie this weekend when the top pick makes his return from injury through the VFL.
Smillie, pick 7 in last year’s AFL draft, suffered a hamstring injury earlier in the year and missed a chunk of the pre-season.
The midfielder is among several Tigers available this weekend, but he will need to “warrant AFL selection” by performing in the twos.
“We’ve got a few boys back, once they get through our main session today, Sam Banks is out of the protocols and Josh Smillie will get some game time,” Richmond coach Adem Yze said.
AFL: The Tigers Sam Lalor says he hopes to be half the player Dustin Martin was, as comparisons are made between the two.
“It is a nice position to be in, they’re all young players we want to see available and we can’t wait to see what they can do.
“It’s going to be a bit too much of an ask for a young kid (Smillie) to walk straight into an AFL game. He hasn’t played any footy up until now.
“Even our practice games, he missed all our practice games. I think he hurt his hammy in the first five seconds of our intraclub.
“He’ll play VFL and then start to put up performances that warrant AFL selection.”
Richmond hosts Brisbane in the VFL at Punt Rd ahead of the AFL at the MCG on Saturday evening.