Riley Collier-Dawkins will hope to receive an AFL lifeline in 2023 after being delisted by Richmond.
The 22-year-old played 11 games for the Tigers after being taken as a first-round selection in the 2018 National Draft, failing to ever lock down a spot in the senior team.
While Collier-Dawkins never made a big impact at Punt Road, AFL Media’s Cal Twomey thinks his strong pedigree could see him earn an opportunity elsewhere as a “train-on prospect”.
“He was a first-round pick from the super draft in 2018, he just hasn’t been able to get going,” Twomey said on SEN Sportsday.
“I think it was the landing of (Tim) Taranto and (Jacob) Hopper in that midfield that squeezed him out.
“I think there’s something there to work with, I think clubs will have a look at it.
“For me, he’s more likely to be a pre-season train-on prospect, and we’ll see a bit of that.
“Players will come and get an opportunity with clubs in December and over January to prove their worth through that time for clubs to use a rookie spot on you.”
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy was also bullish about Collier-Dawkins’ future, expecting a rival club to take a punt on the midfielder given what he showed in his short time at Tigerland.
“He’s had some good moves,” Healy said.
“He looks to me like he should be playing on a list, he looks to me like there’s a dead-set career ahead of him.
“We don’t know the inside and why he hasn’t nailed it just yet, but if you’re a first-rounder and you’ve got the athleticism he has, surely someone takes a punt on him.”
While Collier-Dawkins made just two senior appearances last season, he impressed in the VFL averaging 21.1 disposals and 5.4 tackles from 16 games.