Richmond track watch: All the latest news from Punt Rd

With players missing through suspension and injury to begin the year, Richmond will be forced to fill holes down back — and the mix is becoming clearer. Plus a round 1 bolter and more.

Richmond was back on the training track on Friday as the Tigers prepare for an unofficial scratch match against West Coast in Perth on Monday.

Here’s the latest from Punt Rd.

HOP IN HIS STEP

The word out of the Tigers is that Jacob Hopper has been enjoying his best pre-season in years – and it is showing.

The onballer had a hop in his step at training on Friday, finding plenty of the footy during some modified match simulation.

Hopper was covering the ground exceptionally well and evading opponents with ease, continually driving his ‘Red’ team forward.

The former GWS player – who turned 28 last week – has played just 28 games in his two years at Punt Rd, including 12 matches last year.

But could this be the year he delivers on that seven-year contract?

If he can stay fit, maybe so.

Seth Campbell under pressure from Tim Taranto. Picture: Mark Stewart

SETH-SATIONAL

At Richmond’s best and fairest count last October, development coach Sam Lonergan said forward Seth Campbell was “going to be a highlights package of energy and excitement”.

It looks like being a tough year for the Tigers as they enter the season with the league’s second-youngest and least-experienced playing list.

However, 20-year-old Campbell will be worth watching.

Richmond fans got a taste of what the 2022 rookie draft selection is capable of last year as he played 21 senior games, averaging 11.3 disposals and kicking 10 goals.

Expect him to take another step forward this season.

Campbell’s speed stood out during running drills on Friday, as well as in match simulation where he broke the lines and set up multiple plays from half-forward.

Nathan Broad will have some inexperience around him in defence to start the season as Noah Balta serves his suspension. Picture: Mark Stewart

ROUND 1 BACKLINE?

With Noah Balta (suspended), Josh Gibcus (knee) and Tylar Young (knee) set to miss the start of the season, the Tigers will be forced to take on a different look down back.

Jacob Blight might be the man to fill a hole.

The No. 2 pick in last year’s mid-season draft, Blight featured in three senior games in the second half of last season but might be a permanent fixture – at least in the early rounds – this year.

The 196cm key defender has been training strongly and featured in the stronger ‘Red’ team’s backline during match simulation on Friday.

He was joined on that side by Ben Miller, Nathan Broad, Jayden Short and Nick Vlastuin.

Tom Brown – who played 18 games last year – featured for the ‘Yellow’ team at the other end but was prominent, with teammates regularly funnelling the footy through him at halfback.

Balta and forward-turned-defender Jacob Koschitzke were also part of the Yellow team.

Harry Armstrong flies for a mark. Picture: Mark Stewart

POTENTIAL BOLTER

There’s some talk that draftee Harry Armstrong could be in line for an early AFL debut after an impressive pre-season on the track.

A key forward who was selected at pick 23 in last year’s draft, Armstrong was part of the stronger ‘Red’ team during match simulation on Friday and provided a marking target in attack.

Armstrong has completed the majority of sessions over summer and will be part of the Richmond squad which takes on West Coast on Monday.

Some rival recruiters rated Armstrong as a top-five prospect at stages last year, but he slid down the order before the Tigers pounced late in the first round.

Josh Smillie completed his own session. Picture: Mark Stewart

STILL IN REHAB

Coach Adem Yze said this week that Tom Lynch was “a lock” to face Carlton in round 1, despite him still missing from main training.

A concussion in late January took Lynch out of main training and he completed only a few light drills and ran some laps before leaving the track after an hour on Friday.

But Yze says the “volume of work” Lynch had done before the head knock had been “terrific”.

Josh Smillie – last year’s No. 7 draft pick – was also doing some of his own work as he recovers from a hamstring injury but remains a chance to face Collingwood in an official pre-season match at Ikon Park on February 26.

ACL victims Gibcus, Young, Mykelti Lefau, Judson Clarke and Taj Hotton are all still working their way back to fitness, while draftees Jonty Faull and Luke Trainor were also on light duties.