AFL pre-season: Jacob Koschitzke opens up on his move to Richmond during the club’s Inverloch training camp

After making a ‘seamless transition’ to life at Richmond, Jacob Koschitzke has revealed one of the big reasons why he wanted to join the club.

Western Bulldogs training at the Western oval. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

Richmond forward Jacob Koschitzke says Dustin Martin was “popping wheelies” after the Tigers star was cleared of concussion and hit the bikes with teammates on Thursday.

Martin was taken away from the Tigers’ Inverloch camp to get stitches after suffering a cut to his chin in a heavy collision during match simulation on Wednesday.

But the Richmond veteran rejoined the group for part of what Koschitzke called a “gruelling” cycling session on Thursday morning in a team-bonding exercise.

“(Martin) did a bit of cycling and he seemed up and about, so he’s good as gold and we know the champion that he is – he’ll be back in no time,” Koschitzke said.

“I won’t name and shame who the culprit (behind the cut chin) was – (Martin) has been good, he’s been riding around on the bike, popping monos and wheelies, so he’s as good as gold.”

Dustin Martin training at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve on Wednesday. Picture: Richmond FC

Koschitzke felt he had made a “seamless transition” to the Tigers in the two months since leaving Hawthorn and was benefiting greatly from his existing relationships with new senior coach Adem Yze and assistant Chris Newman, who also crossed over from Hawthorn at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old said the pair had effectively acted as translators to bring him up to speed on the different language Richmond used in meetings.

“It has (helped), obviously you’ve got to come to a new environment, I didn’t know any of the players,” Koschitzke said.

“To have those two guys in terms of the coaching structure is has made the transition really easy.

“They’ve been able to explain concepts and relate them to previous Hawthorn terminology and experience, so it’s felt like a pretty seamless sort of transition.”

Jacob Koschitzke joined the Tigers after five seasons at Hawthorn. Picture: Brayden Chamberlin/Richmond FC

Tigers spearhead Tom Lynch has not returned to training as he recovers from a fractured foot, but Koschitzke said he had already been a valuable mentor and had been a big reason behind his trade request after 48 games in five seasons at the Hawks.

“He’s been offering me advice … we’re different players with different strengths, but I was picking his brain (on Wednesday) about how best to use my body in one-on-one marking contests and long down-the-lines,” Koschitzke said.

“He’s been really beneficial for my development, and it’s part of the reason why I wanted to come here, I felt like needed that older sort of forward who had learnt the tricks of the trade and done their apprenticeship.

“I didn’t actually get the chance to have that at the Hawks … Mitch Lewis is only (18) months older than myself.

“I felt I just needed someone who really knew the game to give me tips and advice on how to handle adversity and all that stuff that comes along with senior footy.”

Camp day 1: Dusty cops pre-season whack

Richmond will assess superstar Dustin Martin to see whether he can rejoin its pre-season camp after he needed stitches following a heavy head knock on the opening day.

Martin was forced from the track after suffering a cut to his chin during match simulation at Wonthaggi on Wednesday.

The Tigers said the 32-year-old had returned to the group after leaving the camp for treatment, and would be monitored for signs of concussion while remaining in Wonthaggi.

He could resume activities as early as Thursday as the Tigers train away from home for the first time under new coach Adem Yze.

Triple-premiership defender Nathan Broad says he was enjoying the balance of work and play under only the second senior coach of his career.

“Ooze (Yze) is good, when it’s time to work, let’s put your work hat on and we’re getting down to business, but then there will be certain parts of this camp and training where let’s have a bit of fun and take your work hat off,” Broad said.

“Wonthaggi and Inverloch has been awesome so far, and we’ve got a few days to go so I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of it.

“This deck is unbelievable, this is almost better than some of the grounds we play on.”

The Tigers are training at Wonthaggi. Picture: Richmond FC

Tom Lynch was absent from the track again as he eyes a return to full training after Christmas, but Broad praised the work ethic of his potential key forward partner Jacob Koschitzke after being matched up against the former Hawk in drills.

“He runs really well, the big fella … he moves really well, his GPS numbers are huge, he competes really hard and he’s doing everything right,” Broad said.

“Same as Sam Naismith, they buy into our culture straight away, so it’s been good having those boys.”

Josh Gibcus joined the defenders for line drills as he pushes to return to senior football after a complex hamstring injury derailed his entire 2023 season.

Broad called the 20-year-old a “freak” as he began to ramp up his training amid great caution from Richmond.

“He’s a freak, Gibby, he’s tall, he’s quick, he’s fit. He’s probably ready to go at the moment, but just with the past history and where he’s been at, we don’t want to push it,” he said.

“He came and joined in a couple of back(line) things today and the boys got around him … he’s going to be a great player for the future.”

Dogs Track Watch: Draftee eyeing early debut

Western Bulldogs’ first draft pick Ryley Sanders is already firming as a strong chance to debut in the round 1 clash with Melbourne after impressing insiders with his work-rate, his skills and his professionalism just a few weeks into his time in red, white and blue.

It is understood Sanders, who turns 19 next month, has already caught the eye of Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, who won’t be shy in promoting young talent at senior level in 2024.

The Tasmanian midfielder, who relocated to Victoria for boarding school and to play with Sandringham Dragons, has settled in well at the Whitten Oval, making a good early impression.

One of the things likely to work in Sanders’ favour in terms of getting an early shot at making his AFL debut is his strong frame as he stands at 186cm and weighs 86kg.

The Bulldogs won’t be shy in promoting Sanders in the early matches if he can carry his good training form into the practice games next season.

Ryley Sanders could be making his AFL debut in round 1.

He will likely play forward early in the season with some midfield cameo minutes as an entree to what Bulldogs fans can expect over the coming years.

Sanders was among a host of fresh faces on the track at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, with the club happy with its national draft haul of five players (the most it has taken since 2018), as well as fellow recruits former Demon James Harmes, ex-Saint Nick Coffield and former Hawk Lachie Bramble.

The Bulldogs feel as if they are building an extra layer of depth that can help the club start the road back up the ladder again after narrowly missing this year’s finals series.

New draftee Aiden O’Driscoll, who was pick 55 last month, had been troubled by a small stress fracture in his back, but recent scans suggested it is on the improve.

He won’t be pushed, but the club is confident he can get back to full training earlier than expected.

Father-son pick Jordan Croft, the son of former Bulldog Matthews, missed his first week of training due to Covid, but the pick 15 is back into the swing of things now.

JACKSON REVIEW FINDINGS IN ‘24

Former AFL executive Peter Jackson is continuing to interview a selection of Bulldogs staff and players with the findings of his review into the men’s football programs not expected to be finalised until at least early in the New Year.

Jackson was on site at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, as the Bulldogs took part in a light but spirited two-hour training session.

He briefly walked around the boundary line during the session before heading inside the club’s facilities for further chats.

Jackson, a former CEO of Essendon and Melbourne as well as an AFL executive, has been charged with what the club said was a review of “various aspects of the administration, operation and integration of the AFL men’s program, the program’s overarching environment and how the club best maximises the opportunities of on-field success.”

It comes after a number of assistant coaching changes including the appointment of Matt Egan, Daniel Pratt, Jarryn Geary and Alex Johnson in various roles, though Jackson’s review is not centred on senior coach Luke Beveridge, but more about the overall program.

Jackson will continue in his role in the coming weeks with the findings of his review not likely to be finalised by Christmas.

Bailey Smith could be in for a bounce back to form in 2024.

‘BAZ’ FIRING, BONT ON LIGHT DUTIES UNTIL THE NEW YEAR

Bailey Smith looks fit and firing, fresh from his 2km time trial win last Monday and a promotional training trip to the US where he worked hard on building his fitness base for 2024.

Entering the final year of his contract with the Dogs, and with a decision to make on his future, Smith was one of the sharpest movers in the Bulldogs’ training drills on Wednesday.

He appears eager to make up for what was a modest 2023 season by his standards, as he tries to lock in a spot in the Bulldogs’ midfield bracket again.

Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli is still recovering from minor ankle surgery from early last month.

Some minor bone spurs had been causing the Brownlow Medal runner-up some discomfort but the surgery should have cleared all that up.

He will take his time in his recovery and while he could rejoin the main group before Christmas, the more likely scenario is that he will be back in full work early in 2024.

FORWARD THINKING FOR DARCE

The Bulldogs will lock in luckless big man Sam Darcy to a key forward/backup ruck role next season as he looks to re-ignite his AFL career following two injury-interrupted seasons.

Darcy, 20 has played seven games – including three this year – since being taken as pick two in the 2021 draft.

A series of injuries have been frustrating for the 208cm son of club great Luke Darcy, but the Dogs are hopeful he can get a clear run at it next year.

The Bulldogs intend to use him in attack and also as a back-up big man to assist All-Australian ruckman Tim English.

It leaves the club with some potent aerial options in attack, including the newly re-signed Aaron Naughton, the ever-improving Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rory Lobb, which could stretch rival defences.

Originally published as AFL pre-season: Jacob Koschitzke opens up on his move to Richmond during the club’s Inverloch training camp