Young regional AFL stars Jacob Blight and Steely Green return for Richmond pre-season training

Richmond mid-season draftee Jacob Blight, who hails from Albany, returned to Punt Road on Monday for the club’s first pre-season session.

The Railways product, who spent some time in Albany during the off-season break, is taking part in his first proper AFL pre-season after being taken with the Tigers’ No.2 mid-season draft pick last year.

The 196cm 22-year-old key defender played three matches for the Tigers last season and may get more opportunities following the departure of retiring stalwart backman Dylan Grimes.

Brookton-Pingelly junior Steely Green joined Blight on Monday and is undertaking his third pre-season since being drafted in 2022.

Since then the lively 20-year-old pressure forward has played six games, which all came last season.

Lake Grace star and new West Coast Eagles recruit Liam Baker was absent from the club’s first pre-season hit out on Monday.

The club welcomed their first-to-fourth-year players but the hard-nosed 26-year-old small utility is expected to join the squad in a fortnight following his move West from Richmond through the trade period.