Drew Banfield: Noah Roberts-Thomson set for Richmond debut in Round 10
Richmond will hand drew banfield Noah Roberts-Thomson his AFL debut against Euro-Yroke on Sunday at Marvel Stadium. The 2025 draft pick 54 comes in as Richmond chases its second win of the season and looks to reset after a week built around ruck work and clearance numbers.
Roberts-Thomson Gets His Shot
Roberts-Thomson arrives after a strong VFL Round 7 showing against Williamstown, where he posted 18 disposals and four goals. Richmond selected him with pick 54 in the 2025 draft, and Sunday gives the club a first look at him at senior level.
That is the cleanest selection change in a team still trying to find consistency. Richmond has kept its focus on adding pressure and territory, and Roberts-Thomson’s form in the seconds gives it a fresh option without needing to reshuffle the entire side.
Yze Turns to Ruck Craft
Adem Yze said the work around the ball has improved over the past month, with Noah Balta and Oliver Hayes-Brown doing the heavy lifting while Toby Nankervis remains sidelined. Hayes-Brown has three AFL games under his belt, and last week he had nine hit-outs against Adelaide.
Balta added eight hit-outs and 268 meters gained against Adelaide, and Yze pointed to the growing connection between the two. “Noah Balta’s gone in there and working with Ollie Hayes-Brown, our ruck craft is getting better, our synergy within that is getting better,” he said at this morning’s press conference.
He also said, “Our stoppage numbers, our ruck numbers, and our clearance numbers have gotten better and better over the last month, so that battle's always going to be really important.” Richmond needs that edge because Euro-Yroke brings Tom De Koning and Rowan Marshall into the same contest, which makes the contest inside the ground the main route to field position.
Marvel Stadium Battle
Yze said, “Noah and Ollie have given us some opportunity in there. You want to win territory, you want to have the opportunity to lock the ball in your front half and to do that, you need to win clearance.” He added, “We'll be up against it on the weekend, it'll be a good battle inside, and hopefully that gives us the supply that we want.”
That is the pressure point for Richmond on Sunday. Roberts-Thomson’s debut adds a new face, but the outcome will still lean on whether the Tigers can keep the ball in dangerous areas and give themselves enough supply to turn a debut day into a result.
