Richmond VFL small forward Massimo Raso gains interest ahead of AFL mid-season draft
Ex-Western Jets coach Trent Dennis-Lane calls Massimo Raso a “diamond in the rough” — and the 171cm small forward has burst into contention for the mid-season draft.
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The Richmond VFL team’s first goal of the 2025 season came at Beaconsfield and with a burst of brilliance from the smallest player on the ground.
Mutaz El Nour kicked the ball into the forward 50m, his target the diminutive Massimo Raso.
It fell short of him.
No matter. The Tigers first-gamer took possession, spun out of a tackle and snapped the goal.
In the commentary box for the VFL livestream, caller Brendan “Jonty’’ Rhodes liked what he saw.
“Oh what a ripper! Massimo Raso with the blind turn and the snap!’’ he said. “Welcome to VFL footy young man. That is outstanding.’’
Raso also kicked a goal in the last quarter, a classic crumbing effort finished on his left foot.
The 19-year-old had 19 disposals on debut and gained some attention: one seasoned AFL reporter called him the “Tiger pocket-rocket’’.
His performances since have put him in contention for the AFL mid-season draft.
Do any clubs need a speedy small forward with nous and a nose for the goals?
Perhaps the Western Bulldogs, who lost Cody Weightman for the season and now have Artie Jones out for a long stretch with a hamstring injury. Young Massimo – described by his former Western Jets coach Trent Dennis-Lane as a “diamond in the rough’’ – could be their man.
Raso is 171cm, but he hasn’t been measured in more than 12 months “and my mum reckons I’ve grown a little bit’’.
His favourite footballers are also on the short side: Giant Brent Daniels, Saint Jack Higgins and Cat Tyson Stengle.
A few weeks ago Raso took himself off to the MCG to see Geelong and Carlton, but also watch Stengle, observing how he went about his role for the Cats.
“Just to see which spots he was getting to and his running patterns and his body language and what he was doing off the ball,’’ Raso says.
“In my draft year I watched a lot of football as a fan. I’m not really doing that any more. I’m watching it as an opportunity to learn and get better. I think that’s the best way to learn, off the best.’’
Raso, a graduate of the Western Jets, says he plays a “little bit on edge’’, enjoys tackling and applying pressure, and, yes, kicking a goal.
He’s wearing the No. 77 jumper for the Tigers.
Raso says it’s “very heavy’’, but he figures he’s in good company, noting that basketballer Luka Doncic dons the same digits for the Lakers.
The apprentice plumber grew up Cairnlea in Melbourne’s west and started in the juniors at Deer Park.
The lure of playing under Mick McGuane prompted him to transfer to Keilor Under 15s, and he credits “Mighty Mick’’ with giving him belief and “honest feedback’’.
“He was really big on the small stuff, how the one percenter could get you over the line,’’ Raso says. “We had a lot of high-intensity sessions – they wouldn’t be more than an hour – but you’d get more out of them than a five-hour session.’’
He first appeared for the Jets in the Coates Talent League as a 16-year-old.
Playing mostly as a midfielder, the right-footer was runner-up in their best and fairest in 2023. Raso took on a small forward’s role last year as Dennis-Lane tried to extend his skill-set and so his appeal to recruiters.
At the encouragement of the Jets, Richmond tracked him in his top-age year and VFL operations manager Oliver Grant saw enough to list him for 2025, as a forward and an onballer. He was particularly taken with his performance in a Young Guns match at Werribee, noting his pace, agility, dash of aggression and the ability to make some sparks in the midfield.
At the end of last season, Dennis-Lane, now on GWS’s coaching panel, spoke of Raso as a “diamond in the rough’’.
When his speedster joined Richmond, Dennis-Lane told Tigers coach Jake Batchelor: “Hey, you’ve got a good one.’’
“I just hope someone gives him a go,’’ Dennis-Lane tells CODE Sports.
“He can stop on a dime and when he’s at his best he never fumbles. He’s got good goal sense, knows how to find the ball, he’s clean. There’s not much he can’t do on the offence side of the game.
“I’m glad he’s putting it together for an extended period of time.’’
Massimo Raso definitely looks a gem out of our VFL program.
— Cameron Hicks (@CameronHicks__) March 23, 2025
Coming from the Western Jets after a fantastic season, the small forward has showed incredible glimpses. A great goal early as well.
Definitely one to keep an eye out for the MSD. #GoTiges
Massimo Raso get ready to learn Richmond AFL buddy
— nic (@NicJones9) April 5, 2025
Raso says Dennis-Lane gave him a lot of confidence, particularly last year, when he left the Under 18s with little interest from AFL clubs.
Consistency had eluded him – “I had some good games and then other games when I didn’t play my best football’’ – and he set out to show it with the Tigers.
“He (Dennis-Lane) reassured me I was good enough if I changed a few things in my game and changed my mindset. That was the major thing I took away from last year,’’ Raso says.
“I believe the game is played above the shoulders. When you’re playing a hard position where you don’t get the ball as much as you’d like to, if you’re constantly engaged in the game you can turn it around in a couple of minutes.’’
He’s reading it all about it.
On holiday in Thailand before the season, he looked up a book called The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F.ck.
Due to his size, Raso has had his doubters in football. But he now worries less about what others think.
“Listening to people within your four walls and focusing on the big things, the things that really matter, are important.
“I’m grateful to be out there and enjoying football. I’m in a lucky position to do that. I’m giving it my best.’’
Originally published as Richmond VFL small forward Massimo Raso gains interest ahead of AFL mid-season draft
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