2) Darren Gaspar:
Wretched year for the veteran defender. He was poor in the first game, not much better in the second and then damaged his hamstring against West Coast. He took until Rd 10 to reappear and vanished just as quickly being dropped to Coburg the following week. As he is in the last year of his current contract future would have to be uncertain.

3) Brett Deledio:
There is a huge weight of expectation on this young man's shoulders. Like Newman contributes every week, did miss one game with a knee strain, but his contributions aren't often noticed. He's 19 years old and in his second season and averaging 17 possessions a game, yet has critics. If he were any other player his praises would be sung.

4) Andrew Raines:
A complete revelation. He's put on weight, breaks tackles, is quick and fearless. Last year the side needed a classy small defender, this year they have one and his name is Andrew Raines.

5) Troy Simmonds:
Another surprise. There were big wraps on the ruckman when he crossed to Richmond, but last year was disappointing. This year he has rucked tirelessly, provided options in the forward line and around the ground. Would have to be polling Brownlow votes too.

7) Nathan Brown:
The superstar small forward placed big expectations on himself coming back from a horrendous leg injury. He played well in the first game, but struggled in the following two, the leg had not healed as well as first believed and Brown was in extreme pain after the games. Took a break and returned in Rd 11, picked up 14 possessions and kicked 2 goals and has apparently recovered well. The future is bright.

8) Thomas Roach:
You have to feel for the young man. He worked hard to get selected and was playing pretty good football against West Coast when a collision with team mate Shane Tuck broke his jaw. Will be up against it to hold his spot on the list.

10) Greg Stafford:
The veteran ruckman is in his last season and it shows. Generally used as a forward option, but time and injuries have caught up with him. He deserves to reach the 200 game milestone, but it's a shame that he'll probably just limp over the line rather than run.

11) Joel Bowden:
The winner of the last 2 Jack Dyer medals hasn't done his chances of a hat trick any harm with this season. Hard to match up on and hard to stop he initiates a huge amount of drive from the backline.

12) Matthew Richardson:
The big fella was on track for another 60+ goal season when fate intervened and handed him a broken wrist that derailed his season temporarily. He'll only miss 3 games, but his inclusion against Fremantle could have won that game. HIs contribution is often looked at in terms of goals, but he gaves away more than he kicks and always takes the opposition's premier defender which allows another Tiger forward some latitude.

13) Trent Knobel:
The 2nd string ruckman is struggling a little. Missed the first few games through injury and whilst he had good games against Adelaide and Geelong he did give away a few silly free kicks that could have cost the side dearly. Will take Stafford's place next year, but will always be the second ruck option.

14) Dean Polo:
Another surprise from the 2004 draft. This time last year Dean was still running around for Coburg reserves. He made his debut in the Dreamtime game against Essendon and was named best on ground. He hasn't reached those dizzying heights again, but is regularly doing a job that most would think was beyond a player with less than 10 games under his belt. Simply looks like he belongs.

15) Kayne Pettifer:
The small forward is having a season right out of the box. He improved last year and is improving further this season. He leads the Richmond goal kickers with 19 majors and is also in the top 10 for marks and disposals. Would be duelling with Troy Simmonds for the club best and fairest.

16) Patrick Bowden:
Younger brother of Joel, is achieving far more than he ever did at the Bulldogs. Had a standout game against St Kilda, but regularly fills in a backline role and can move forward. Quite often links up nicely with his brother.

17) Kane Johnson:
There is a view that the captain is reaching the end of his road. He puts himself where angels fear to tread on a regular basis, but can still let himself down with disposal. Whilst his courage and commitment to Richmond (despite playing in two Premierships for the Adelaide Crows he lists his proudest football moment as playing his first game for Richmond) cannot be questioned, he is not the most inspirational leader in the side. I believe he'll play at least next season, but will hand the no 17 guernsey on.

18) David Rodan:
I like Dave and want to see him succeed, but he is finding returning from a knee reconstruction a hard road to hoe. He played in the first game, but was underdone and needed time at Coburg to get form and confidence back. He did have one other senior appearance, but had very little impact. He just needs to keep working away at it in the VFL and he will make it back to the senior side.

20) Ray Hall:
Another favourite of mine, but I have to admit he isn't having a great season. Missed the first couple of games through injury and then struggled at CHB before missing another two due to injury. He was well beaten by Nathan Thompson early against the Kangaroos, but his desperation and second efforts were first rate and hopefully a couple of runs forward gave him some confidence.

21) Shane Tuck:
Picked up where he left off last season. Always in the middle getting the ball out. Kicking lacks polish, but he gives his team mates the chance to win the ball from the clearances. It evokes disbelief that Danny Frawley could not see Tuck's potential and consequently would not play him in 2004.

22) Danny Meyer:
There were rumours that this quick, classy player was homesick and wanted to go back home to Adelaide. Those rumours have dried up since he made his way into the senior side, he has performed well each week and is playing well enough to suggest that he'll be a valued Tiger for some time to come.

23) Daniel Jackson:
The biggest problem facing this young man is finding a spot. Early in the season it looked as if it was forward, but has played a few games since then and only been used as a stop gap option.

24) Mark Coughlan:
The midfielder has well and truly recovered from the osteitis pubis that ruined his 2004 season and also plagued him last season. The 35 possession game against Fremantle underlined that. Along with Shane Tuck and Kane Johnson a large part of why Richmond has won 6 games.

25) Jay Schulz:
I'm becoming convinced that Jay is cursed. He was tipped to fill in the big hole that Richmond has at CHB, then spent what little game time he got against the Bulldogs in the forward line. He did line up in defence against St Kilda and was doing a pretty good job until St Kilda hard man Aaron Hamill slammed him down in a strong tackle knocking him out and breaking his shoulder. He has recently returned to Coburg and kicked 10 goals in 2 games, suggesting that he is ready for a return to the seniors, but exactly where?

26) Adam Pattison:
Another one of the 2004 draftees playing an important role and coming on well. He always fills a position and his height can make him hard to match up on. Best game he has played in his relatively short career was the heartstopper against Adelaide.

27) Andrew Krakouer:
The small, flashy forward is making slow improvement. He still has games where he goes missing, but his work rate has improved, he's still good for those unexpected goals and he's also damaging in the midfield.

29) Jarrod Oakley-Nicholls:
The first round draft pick from last year has played a couple of games.He's taller than I first believed and very quick. Needs weight and experience.

30) Richard Tambling:
The sensation from the NT has played most games in 2006 and starting to show why he was so highly regarded. He is quick and dangerous, takes a good high mark for his size and his speed makes him a hard man to match up on, very good anywhere near the goals.

31) Chris Hyde:
Another youngster having a standout season. There are those who believed he was primed for this last year, but a broken skull put paid to that. Now that he's fit and confident he is growing in stature each week. Richmond now has goal kicking midfielders and Hyde is one of them.

32) Greg Tivendale:
After flirting with delisting last year the wingman has put on weight and worked hard to get his fitness back to the required levels. He's running hard, delivering long ball off his left foot into the forward line and the goal kicking radar is back.

33) Brent Hartigan:
The hard nosed small defender has played a few good games, but was dropped due to an injury and needs to work on his decision making to get a return back to a senior side that is becoming increasingly settled.

34) Cleve Hughes:
The unusually named South Australian forward was given a taste of senior football and obviously liked it. He has kicked goals there and knows what it takes to make it. Unlikely to get many more chances this season, but has laid the foundations for a successful career.

35) Matthew White:
The surprise selection from the pre season draft played his first senior game against Fremantle and did not look at all out of place. He picked up a handful of possessions and kicked a goal. Will get more chances and was impressive in his first game.

36) Will Thursfield:
Another hard luck story. Was killing Nick Riewoldt against the Saints and had he not gone down with a knee injury the Tigers may have won that game. Hopefully he can return from the knee reconstruction, because he is the man needed at fullback in the future.

38) Luke McGuane:
The nephew of Collingwood great Mick McGuane made his debut against the Swans and was put to the sword by Michael O'Loughlin. Has potential, but is not yet ready.

39) Andy Kellaway:
The sheer value of Andy was noticed in the Swans game which he did not play and the defence was completely overwhelmed. He did play the following week and his courage prompted 200 gamer Joel Bowden to say that he was the most courageous player he had ever seen. It will be a sad day when Andy decides that his career has come to an end.

41) Nathan Foley:
There's a lot to like about this small player. His heart is bigger than he himself he goes into packs, brings the ball out and it is mystifying why he does not get more game time, because he makes something happen with the ball every time he gets it in his hands.

42) Jeremy Humm:
The former West Coast Eagle has only had the one game, ironically against his old side. Hard to really rate him. He did a few good things, but also made a few mistakes and showed maybe why the Eagles allowed him to go.

Coach Terry Wallace:
If there is a better coach in the AFL I don't know who it is. He has players playing for him, he has them confident and fitter than they have been for some time. He knows where to play his men. He can handle the media and do it well. If it's needed he can totally change the game plan and get the players to stick to it. Richmond had no business winning against Adelaide and would not have with any other coach.