Sam Davidson looms as VFL’s top draft prospect after impressive season at Richmond

A Richmond VFL bolter looms as a key piece of the club’s AFL rebuild — as long as the Tigers can ward off growing interest from rivals who are clamouring over Sam Davidson.

Richmond will gaze far and wide for talent to replenish its list, but it will also look into its own backyard at a player nicknamed “Doc’’.

The Tigers are keen on their first-year VFL forward Sam Davidson, who is studying medicine at Monash University.

“Absolutely no doubt they’d take him if they could,’’ one recruiter said of the prospect of Richmond putting the 191cm right-footer in AFL yellow and black.

“But I think every club in the comp is on to him.’’

The 22-year-old is the favourite to win this year’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the VFL’s best Under 23 player.

Stretching back to 2006, the past 17 winners of the medal have advanced to the AFL.

The list includes Michael Barlow, Michael Hibberd, Luke Ryan and Bayley Fritsch.

The VFL is eager to keep the run going and officials believe Davidson is one of the league’s best draft hopes.

Sam Davidson is attracting huge interest ahead of this year’s drafts.

Davidson kicked 26.13 and averaged 14.4 disposals in his debut season for Richmond VFL, which lost last Sunday’s wildcard final to Williamstown.

He spent most of the season in the forward line, but also played on the wing and even in the ruck, showing an adaptability to go with his natural ability.

Richmond VFL coach Steve Morris said on Wednesday the huge upside in Davidson would make him an attractive prospect.

“He has got a year to go with his placements and he can’t complete his studies while he’s full- time AFL but he said he’s more than happy to put that on hold to chase his AFL dream,” Morris said.

“I would be hopeful that he gets his chance, I don’t care where he gets it. He is a great kid who comes from a beautiful family and deserves the opportunity to test himself at the highest level, whether in the national draft or rookie draft.

Sam Davidson’s 5-star performance ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/LFNoLMfqsS

— Richmond VFL (@RichmondVFL) July 8, 2024

“He wasn’t in our team in round 1 and he’s one of the very first picked by the end of the year and teams put a lot of attention into him and he still is able to rack up some amazing numbers and blow up the GPS. I am really hopeful we can get him across the line to get him that award (Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal) and get him onto an AFL list because he’s got great upside.”

Richmond got wind of Davidson after Morris’ former West Adelaide teammate David Piasente told him to look at vision of the utility playing for Maffra in the Gippsland league.

“He thought he had an amazing tank and was so athletic, he could do things others in that league couldn’t. He just thought he had something,” Morris said.

“He used the ball on both sides of his body, looked like he had something from an athletic point of view. We thought it was worthwhile getting him down. He is one of our very best runners at six foot two and a half. He’s good above his head, he can put pressure on because of his elite tank and he’s grown has game unbelievably this year to become one of the very best players at VFL level. He’s just scratching the surface really.”

Sam Davidson rises to mark for the VFL Tigers. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

Sam Davidson with the party trick 🎉 pic.twitter.com/z6M5P3nBir

— Richmond VFL (@RichmondVFL) July 14, 2024

Davidson is completing an honour’s year with his medical studies, having previously popped around the state with placements.

Last season he played a few games for South Mildura and then a few more for Maffra in the strong Gippsland competition.

One of Richmond VFL’s last signings, he missed selection in the first two rounds but then played every game through to the wildcard.

His best performances included six goals and 19 disposals against the Northern Bullants and four goals and four goals and 17 touches against Port Melbourne.

“His running capacity and his ability to cover the ground, he’s the best at it on our VFL list and he’d give a lot of the AFL boys a fair shake as well,’’ Tigers VFL general manager and recruiter Oliver Grant said earlier in the year.

“And because he’s tall, it makes him a really hard match-up.

“He can compete like a tall and bring it to ground, but he can also run an opponent off his legs and get to the other side of the ground and help spread it as well. So he’s a pretty unique player – he can hold down a key position or help us get the other team with run. He’s been one of the reasons we’ve been able to put up competitive efforts with a lot of VFL-listed players.’’

Originally published as Sam Davidson looms as VFL’s top draft prospect after impressive season at Richmond