RICHMOND is hopeful a fresh injection of youth will reinvigorate the club as the reigning premiers aim to once again hold off the chasing pack and claim a third flag in four years.
The injury-free Tigers remain one of the League's most daunting prospects heading into season 2020, with the club's experienced campaigners refreshed by the energy being brought to Punt Road by a series of uncapped youngsters coming through the system.
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First-round draft picks Riley Collier-Dawkins and Thomson Dow have put themselves in contention for early-season debuts following strong summers on the track, while ruckman Callum Coleman-Jones will be looking to add to his solitary senior appearance in round one.
Coleman-Jones impressed throughout the Marsh Community Series, with veteran defender Bachar Houli crediting the young talent for bringing a new life to Richmond's seasoned side.
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"It just keeps adding to the depth in our system and our playing group," Houli said after being named as a 2020 AFL Multicultural Ambassador on Wednesday.
"It's very healthy. You want these kids to continue to develop, because you want some solid depth coming from underneath.
"Hopefully these young men can get that opportunity and I'm sure they will, because for whatever the game offers – injuries, performances – we just want every player to be ready and when that opportunity gets called, hopefully these boys can step up."
Richmond will have a fully-fit squad to pick from ahead of the season-opener against Carlton in eight days' time, with the Tigers having a near-clear bill of health after the summer.
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However, that's not necessarily a scary prospect for opposition sides.
"Not going by our last two performances (in pre-season)," Houli laughed.
"Luckily, they're just practice games and we're getting our system up and going. A lot of learnings have come from that, but having a healthy list is healthy.
"Thankfully, I don't have to pick the team."
Richmond suffered successive defeats in the Marsh Community Series, going down to Collingwood by 40 points and Greater Western Sydney by 14 points.
