Richmond’s Callum Coleman-Jones announced himself on the weekend, booting four goals in just his second AFL game.
The young forward/ruck hybrid has been dominant at VFL level and took his opportunity in the absence of Tom Lynch.
In a tight game against the Crows, Coleman-Jones stood tall and, alongside Jack Riewoldt, got the Tigers over the line eventually by 28 points.
Richmond has a glut of key forward and ruck options on their list. Beyond Riewoldt and Lynch, they have both Coleman-Jones and Mabior Chol, who also impressed on the weekend.
In the ruck, Toby Nankervis continues to hold down the role, Ivan Soldo is recovering from a torn ACL and Samson Ryan has impressed in the VFL.
Gold Coast reportedly has interest in Coleman-Jones, while multiple clubs have reportedly inquired about Chol.
David King can’t see both remaining at the Tigers given the club’s depth.
“How do you stay there (if you're CCJ)? In front of you you’ve got Jack Riewoldt who they’re re-signing, Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis who’s still young as a ruckman and going nowhere and Mabior Chol’s probably in front of him as a ruckman. Some of his ruck work on the weekend was extraordinary,” King told SEN’s Whateley.
“Then you can’t get a game down back because Noah Balta’s down there and he’s as young as you are.
“So how do you stay?
“It’s a tough one. You want to stay. You want to play in a great side and they’ve really supported him, as Damien (Hardwick) is at pains to tell us. In other words ‘hey, don’t you think of going anywhere’.
“I think it’s a tough one now. I don’t think they’ll be able to keep both of Chol and CCJ. I think one of them will leave.”