Northern Football League talents joining Richmond VFL for 2022 season
After seeing Garrett McDonagh graduate to the AFL, a host of Northern Football League talent is hoping to follow him through Richmond’s VFL team.
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A host of Northern Football League talents have joined Richmond’s VFL program this season hoping to follow in Garrett McDonagh’s footsteps.
The West Preston-Lakeside premiership star joined Richmond in 2020 and 10 games later found himself on an AFL list, drafted by Essendon with pick No.50 in November.
This season Bundoora quartet John Jorgensen, Tylar Young, Jackson Davies and Jackson Bowne, Greensborough’s Tom Brindley and Banyule’s Riley Loton hope to replicate his success.
Richmond coach Steve Morris said all six had attributes that would translate to the AFL level.
“For a few years we’ve recruited heavily on character and all those guys are sensational characters,” he said.
“I think that’s what AFL clubs are looking for in mature recruits more than ever before, so that’s the first box they’ve got to tick, and beyond that they’ve all got attributes that will see them have an opportunity to be successful at the next level.
“It’s great for the boys to train in an elite environment, some of them haven’t done so before, and we’ve seen them take some big steps.”
Loton joined Richmond at the same time as McDonagh, reward for a breakout season in 2019 that saw the Banyule gun win the NFL Division 2 league best-and-fairest in a three-way tie.
He made his VFL debut in Round 1 but didn’t feature again but an impressive pre-season campaign has the young midfielder set for a big season.
“Riley’s had a super pre-season, he’s just had a couple of bad interruptions over the past couple of seasons,” Morris said.
“He had a super game against Casey a couple of weeks ago, he’d been bugging me for an opportunity and he did a great job winning the ball on the inside – I think he had 23 touches – and put a lot of pressure on.
“Flexibility is a big one, if he wants to play at the next level he needs to add forward craft to his game, but certainly when he’s around the footy he’s got clean hands and makes good decisions.”
Brindley had a breakout campaign in 2021, playing a variety of positions at Greensborough and led the Division 1 Coaches’ MVP at the half-way mark.
Exposed to an elite environment for the first time, Morris can see plenty of potential.
“He’s one we’ve got a long-term view with, getting him into the gym and training in an environment with a strength program,” Morris said.
“He’s certainly got the attributes to play at the next level but it might take a little bit of time to do it on a consistent basis.
“I probably see him as a marking forward at this stage but … he could be that modern-day wingman that clubs are looking for.
“Being able to get back and help in defence or exploit an opposition wingman that doesn’t have the height, there’s a few different roles I can see him playing and flexibility is key at AFL and VFL level.”
Not content with four on Richmond’s list, Bundoora has 10 players on VFL lists.
Bulls coach Michael Ryan has a strong relationship with Morris and his players haven’t let him down during pre-season.
Young defender Davies and tall forward Young have impressed over summer and earnt an opportunity to mix in with AFL-listed players in a Richmond intra-club as well as six-quarter practice match against Geelong.
Davies has shifted from Coburg, while Young was with Frankston in 2022.
Meanwhile, Jorgensen and Bowne have shown glimpses of their potential.
“Tylar Young didn’t have a great game (against Geelong) but it really helped him learn some lessons and he’s been sensational since,” Morris said.
“It’s amazing when you see guys like Tylar and John Jorgensen in a program that gives them coaching and analysis that they’ve never had, how quickly they can improve.
“Having the opportunity to play against the best and see where you measure up is a pretty good opportunity for young, developing players.
“Jacko’s (Bowne) an interesting one, he put himself a bit behind the eight ball, he didn’t come quite as prepared as we’d have hoped and in hindsight as he’d have hoped.
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“You’ve got players that stand out in pre-season with their running ability and Jacko’s not one of those but once the footy’s come out he does standout.
“He’s that old-school footballer, that came to the fore against Casey where he bobbed up and kicked three goals and his smarts shone through.”
The sextet of Northern talents will hope to pull on the yellow and black this Sunday when Richmond kicks off its season against Southport at Punt Road.
The NFL season begins the following weekend with Bundoora visiting McDonagh’s West Preston-Lakeside, Greensborough travelling to Whittlesea and Banyule away to St Mary’s.
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