The emerging Tiger and first-gamer that impressed King

Richmond have a lot to look forward to if Thursday night’s upset win is anything to go off according to David King.

No. 1 pick Sam Lalor was an obvious standout with his two goals and 18 disposals, leading King to compare the Tiger cub to Dustin Martin, but he wasn’t alone as players that caught the eye.

Fellow first-round draftee Luke Trainor immediately slotted into defence with 15 disposals and five marks, while 24-year-old Jack Ross had perhaps the best game of his seven-year career with 28 disposals, two crucial goals and seven clearances.

“They’ve got a lot to look forward to, the Tigers,” King said on SEN Breakfast.

“I thought the other youngsters were really quite special.

“I thought Luke Trainor was impressive. There was a smother in the square where he'd already committed one effort, you very rarely see a first gamer or an 18-year-old have the wherewithal and the courage to go again, and he laid a big smother. It was goal-saving. You thought, ‘Ok, here we go’.

“It was also the best game I've seen Jack Ross play. 

“I don't know if he's got that level in him on a consistent basis, but he had 28 disposals, two goals and seven clearances.

“They needed a bit of class in the midfield, and we've bashed Taranto and Hopper for a long time, but I just thought they needed someone to be able to damage centre forward (and he did that).

“Ross was the one. Not only was he able to hit the scoreboard, he was a high metres game player … he was excellent.”

King’s co-host Kane Cornes was also pleased to see a clear, repeatable game plan from coach Adam Yze, something he thinks would please Tigers fans as much as seeing their young names emerge.

“From the discussions I've had with just a couple of Richmond fans over the offseason, you ask, ‘What do they want to see?’,” Cornes said.

“They’ve got the three trophies in recent times in the bank. So whatever happens, you can be really comfortable with what you’ve got. They’re supportive of this strategy.

“It still will be hard, don’t worry about that, but they wanted to see some youngsters coming through to take the club forward.

”But the big thing was what Is Adem Yze’s style of football that he wants them to play?

“Last night, you rock up and you go, ‘I can see what it is’. Come hard forward in defence, pressure the absolute life out of them, and give unwavering and uncompromising effort when you need to. 

“The senior players led the way with that.”

Richmond will hope to keep up their good form when they face Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval next Saturday.