Richmond intra-club: Liam Baker has surgery, recruits shine, draftees push their case

Veterans Robbie Tarrant and Dylan Grimes are mainstays down back for the Tigers, but a rookie key defender is doing everything right at Punt Road to keep his name in the frame.

Richmond hit the track for their intra-club on Saturday in beautiful sunny conditions at Punt Road.

While a few faces were missing, there were still plenty of stars on show to excite the Tiger army.

See the latest from track watch here.

TERRIFIC TARANTO

Richmond ranked a lowly 15th in clearance differential last year, but the additions of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper through the trade period are sure to help turn those numbers around.

Taranto was seemingly everywhere during some match simulation at training on Saturday, finding plenty of ball through the midfield and using it well when he did win it.

The former Greater Western Sydney gun runs hard and continually gets to the right places to impact the contest.

Tim Taranto is going to be a big addition to the Tigers’ squad. Picture: Michael Klein

Taranto was played as a forward at times during his six seasons with the Giants and has shown he is able to hit the scoreboard, but the Tigers seem set on using him as a permanent midfielder this season.

Having been carefully managed over the off-season, fellow former Giant Hopper was also in the thick of the action through the midfield on Saturday.

“They’re elite players and they’re only going to help us around the stoppage and contest,” assistant coach Xavier Clarke said.

“They’ve been terrific.”

Kaelan Bradtke is the new ‘KB’ around Tigerland. Picture: Michael Klein

THE NEW ‘KB’

Excitement is growing around Kaelan Bradtke, just days after he was signed on to fill Richmond’s final list spot through the AFL’s Supplemental Selection Period.

Plucked from Corowa-Rutherglen in the Ovens and Murray Football League, the 195cm forward is quickly making his mark at Punt Rd.

A solid body, Bradtke created a contest and crashed some packs at training on Saturday, while his running ability also caught the eye.

“It’s a great story and it’s a credit to him,” Clarke said.

“He’s a self-driver, he’s always in the offices watching vision and trying to improve.

“If he continues to improve, anything can happen, really.”

Dustin Martin is fit and firing for 2023.

Jack Riewoldt dishes off a handball. Picture: David Crosling

DUSTY PRIMED

Brownlow Medal winner Dustin Martin was looking as sharp as ever as he took lead-up marks, wove between opponents and snapped goals at training on Saturday.

Martin again played forward during match simulation, in a first-choice attacking end that also included Jack Riewoldt, Ben Miller, Shai Bolton, Maurice Rioli Jnr and Trent Cotchin.

After playing just nine games due to injury and personal reasons last year, Martin has been one of the standouts on the training track across summer.

“He hasn’t missed a session this whole pre-season,” Clarke said.

“So he’s been looking as dynamic as he’s ever been and he’s been training really well.”

Tylar Young (far right) is turning heads. Picture: Michael Klein

STAY TUNED

A rookie selection in last year’s draft has been catching the attention of his coaches after a “really impressive” summer.

Tylar Young played 14 games for Richmond’s VFL side last year, before the 196cm key defender won a spot on the AFL list after being snapped up at pick 26 in the rookie draft.

With fellow key defender Josh Gibcus sidelined with a hamstring injury for the early part of the season, Young could find himself in the frame to earn an early senior opportunity in assistant coach Ben Rutten’s backline.

“He’s shown some great things in training so if he continues to go on the path he’s going, he probably will play senior footy at some point throughout this year,” Clarke said of Young.

“Truck’s got a bit of a headache to select his best side down there.”

Noah Balta is poised to play a more permanent role in defender this year after being used as a forward at times last season, while veterans Robbie Tarrant and Dylan Grimes are training well and will remain mainstays down back.

STAR TIGER SITS OUT INTRA-CLUB AFTER SURGERY

Richmond utility Liam Baker will be racing the clock to be fit for the Tigers’ season opener against Carlton after having surgery to remove his appendix this week.

Baker watched on from a seat in the grandstand as his teammates were put through their paces at training on Saturday morning, just 26 days out from Round 1.

However, the 25-year-old tough nut is expected to resume light training duties next week.

“He woke up feeling pretty sore in the stomach over the weekend and had it investigated and unfortunately he had to have his appendix out,” Richmond assistant coach Xavier Clarke said.

Liam Baker didn’t take part in the Tigers’ intra-club.

“But Bakes is pretty tough and he’s going to be ready for Round 1, there’s no doubt. We’ve all seen the way he plays. If he had his way he’d probably be out there training (on Saturday). But he’ll rest up and he’ll be fine in the coming weeks.”

The Tigers expect Baker to miss next week’s practice match against North Melbourne, but he could still play some game time in their official pre-season hitout against Melbourne the following week.

Forward Jason Castagna and defender Nathan Broad were both restricted to running duties on Saturday as they recover from recent hamstring complaints but are expected to be available for Round 1.

Key forward Tom Lynch (foot) also remains on track to face off against the Blues despite again sitting out match simulation in favour of some running drills.

“He’s getting back gradually into training,” Clarke said of Lynch.

“Last week he started drip-feeding into some of our drills and again today. He should be fully into training next week so he’ll be available for Round 1. Does he play some of our scratch matches? We’re not sure yet. We’ll work with our medical team and see what that looks like in terms of a load for him.”

Tigers midfielder Jack Graham (toe), ruckman Ivan Soldo (back soreness) and defender Josh Gibcus (hamstring) were others to sit out match simulation.