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One of Richmond’s most important players in the coming years could be yet to make his debut at senior level.
I refer to Liam McBean, who has gone about his business quietly since being drafted in the second round of the 2012 national draft.
The 202 centimetre forward has been ultra-impressive in the VFL over the past two seasons with Coburg and now Richmond reserves.
In 2013 he burst onto the scene and finished the season with 37 goals, which put him in the top couple of players on the VFL leading goal kickers’ list. He is likely to go one better this season, leading all comers with 33 goals, despite missing a few games throughout the season.
Perhaps most impressive about McBean is his ability to source goals from different situations.
A player of his size usually relies on their aerial ability but the tall forward is more than happy crumbing off packs or scoring goals through his smart positioning and reading of the play.
If anything, it is his contested marking ability he will be looking to improve on before making the next step up to AFL level.
The 19-year-old Calder Cannons product would perfectly complement a Richmond forward line screaming out for someone to take the pressure off focal point Jack Riewoldt.
Tyrone Vickery shows potential but he is yet to make the centre half forward position his own. Ben Griffiths is in a similar situation and possesses many attributes of a dominant key forward, except perhaps the most important one, confidence.
If the recent years have taught us anything it is that a well-functioning forward line needs more than one main avenue to goal.
The Jarryd Roughead-Lance Franklin combination worked well for the Hawks, and now Sydney will look to capitalise on their multi-million dollar forward line investment of Kurt Tippett and Franklin.
For too long, Riewoldt has shouldered the goal kicking duties at the Tigers and this makes them too predictable when heading inside the forward fifty.
But Richmond will keep its fingers and toes crossed that McBean’s exciting VFL form can progress into the AFL.
Follow Jackson on Twitter – @jclark182
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