How Richmond made good on a promise to first-round draftee after ACL injury in May

Richmond draftee Taj Hotton foresaw himself pulling on the yellow and black six months before having his name read out at Pick 12 on Wednesday night.

The teenager loomed as an even earlier pick after a strong start to his 2024 season with both the Sandringham Dragons and Haileybury, but that hot start was thwarted after he suffered an ACL injury at a school training session in May.

It was after that cruel injury that the Tigers made a promise to the youngster that they’d still pick him up if he were available despite him missing the back half of his draft season.

Taj’s father Trent – who played for Collingwood and Carlton – spoke about how the club’s show of confidence in him helped him get to work on his body knowing that he wouldn’t be playing competitive footy for a wall.

“I suppose the first few days, he was really flat after doing the knee as you can expect,” Hotton told SEN Breakfast.

“But he got a text or a call from Richmond that night (after the injury), I think, saying, ‘Look, don't worry, we're still going to pick you up’.

“So, he probably felt pretty confident after that.  He then really got to work thinking, ‘Well, I need to get to the gym and put some size on’ … he actually thinks he's almost got a chest these days.

“He took advantage of his time away from the oval.”

While Richmond had made their intentions clear to the youngster, Trent says the family still wasn’t 100 per cent sure he’d end up a Tiger until his name was read out on draft night given most predictions had him being selected at a mid to late teens slot.

“Look, you’re never always confident when someone says something like that,” Hotton said.

“But they seemed pretty genuine in their interest and they were always sort of going to be around the mark.

“But we really didn't know until it was read out on Wednesday night.”

Hotton was one of eight players picked up by Richmond across the 2024 draft with Sam Lalor (pick 1), Josh Smillie (pick 7), Jonty Faull (pick 14), Luke Trainor (pick 21), Harry Armstrong (pick 23), Thomas Sims (pick 28) and Jasper Alger (pick 58) also headed to Tigerland.