A NEW-LOOK Richmond can still be a team that shapes the top eight in the final two months of the season despite its focus on the future, according to midfielder Anthony Miles.
The Tigers will unveil debutant Oleg Markov in Saturday night's clash against the Western Bulldogs, with young players Liam McBean and Jason Castagna also selected for their third senior games.
There has been a clear direction taken at selection after coach Damien Hardwick ruled out finals in 2016, with senior players Ivan Maric and Ty Vickery dropped, but Miles said the club was still capable of upsetting contenders.
"Make no mistakes, we've been disappointed with how the season's panned out, (but) the best thing about footy is there's eight weeks left and we can gain some respect back in those eight weeks," Miles said.
"With the top eight so close I think we can certainly shape the finals.
"We're a proud football club and we'll play that way this weekend."
Markov will be the fifth Tiger to make his debut this season, joining Daniel Rioli, Jayden Short and Castagna, who will all face the Bulldogs, and omitted defender Nathan Broad.
Miles said Markov, the 20-year-old son of former world champion pole vaulter Dmitri Markov, was ready to debut after an impressive run of VFL form.
"You can tell by the way he moves that he's got that athletics background growing up … he's got a lot of pace and raw excitement," Miles said.
"He's a really exciting prospect and probably didn't think he would get a game this year, he's just so raw.
"It's really exciting for the club to see the new batch of players coming through."
Miles put the heat on Richmond's young and middle tier players to improve and agreed with recent commentary that the club's top five players had carried too much of the load.
He praised the form of Dustin Martin, Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt, Brett Deledio and captain Trent Cotchin and said Martin could win the Brownlow Medal.
"He's been exceptional … I believe he could," Miles said.
"Every game we've won he's been up there in our best players.
"There's eight rounds left, he's just so explosive and he's shown in the past he's a proven vote-getter."
Martin has averaged a career-high 28.7 disposals this season, also racking up personal best numbers in clearances (4.6), inside 50s (4.7) and contested possessions (11.9).
Meanwhile, the Tigers are hopeful midfielder Shaun Grigg (knee) will be fit to face Essendon in round 17 after he failed to prove his fitness in Thursday’s training session.
