Latest news with #TajHotton
Courier-Mail
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
AFL 2025: Richmond coach Adem Yze on latest debutant Taj Hotton
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Richmond coach Adem Yze will unleash 'special talent' Taj Hotton in a variety of roles in his highly anticipated debut on Saturday night. The Tigers selected Hotton with one of their six first round picks last year despite him missing a chunk of the year through an ACL setback. Hotton showed why he was once touted to go as high as pick No.1 prior to injury through strong performances in the VFL on return. With the absence of spearhead Tom Lynch through suspension, Hotton could spend time deep inside the Tigers' 50. But as Yze sees it, Hotton has the capacity to play deep, high and even pinch hit in the middle of the ground. 'He's just a pure forward, so we can play him at either line. He can go deep, he can play a high-forward role,' he said. 'Then he has pinch hit in the midfield in the VFL the last couple of weeks, so we might see him around the ball late in the game as well. 'We'd like to give him that exposure – whether it's this week or coming weeks.' The 183cm Hotton can play taller than his height suggests, as he launches at the footy with consummate ease. Richmond will unveil another one of its top picks this Saturday in Taj Hotton (third from left). Picture: Michael Klein Yze says Hotton's areal power, craft at ground level and work ethic is why Richmond coaches, players and supporters are itching to see the young talent under MCG lights against Essendon. 'He's a special talent, when you've got the ability to jump and mark like he does and then at ground level do things, it's really hard to coach,' he said. 'It's the reason he went so high in the draft and the reason we rated him so highly going into the draft. 'There's all those things and then there's his work ethic, to get where he is today to be ready to play at AFL level after three VFL games is a credit to him. 'The spotlight is going to be on him like it was on Sammy (Lalor) earlier in the year and like it has been for all our first round picks. 'We've got to help him through that (and) he understands he's got a nice block of games to start feeling like he belongs at AFL level.' Richmond, with three wins, also welcomes back defender Jayden Short from injury, while Nick Vlastuin will celebrate his 250th game. Originally published as AFL 2025: Richmond coach Adem Yze on latest debutant Taj Hotton
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
AFL 2025: Richmond coach Adem Yze on latest debutant Taj Hotton
Richmond coach Adem Yze will unleash 'special talent' Taj Hotton in a variety of roles in his highly anticipated debut on Saturday night. The Tigers selected Hotton with one of their six first round picks last year despite him missing a chunk of the year through an ACL setback. Hotton showed why he was once touted to go as high as pick No.1 prior to injury through strong performances in the VFL on return. With the absence of spearhead Tom Lynch through suspension, Hotton could spend time deep inside the Tigers' 50. But as Yze sees it, Hotton has the capacity to play deep, high and even pinch hit in the middle of the ground. 'He's just a pure forward, so we can play him at either line. He can go deep, he can play a high-forward role,' he said. 'Then he has pinch hit in the midfield in the VFL the last couple of weeks, so we might see him around the ball late in the game as well. 'We'd like to give him that exposure – whether it's this week or coming weeks.' The 183cm Hotton can play taller than his height suggests, as he launches at the footy with consummate ease. Yze says Hotton's areal power, craft at ground level and work ethic is why Richmond coaches, players and supporters are itching to see the young talent under MCG lights against Essendon. 'He's a special talent, when you've got the ability to jump and mark like he does and then at ground level do things, it's really hard to coach,' he said. 'It's the reason he went so high in the draft and the reason we rated him so highly going into the draft. 'There's all those things and then there's his work ethic, to get where he is today to be ready to play at AFL level after three VFL games is a credit to him. 'The spotlight is going to be on him like it was on Sammy (Lalor) earlier in the year and like it has been for all our first round picks. 'We've got to help him through that (and) he understands he's got a nice block of games to start feeling like he belongs at AFL level.'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Where Tigers will unleash ‘special talent'
Richmond coach Adem Yze will unleash 'special talent' Taj Hotton in a variety of roles in his highly anticipated debut on Saturday night. The Tigers selected Hotton with one of their six first round picks last year despite him missing a chunk of the year through an ACL setback. Hotton showed why he was once touted to go as high as pick No.1 prior to injury through strong performances in the VFL on return. With the absence of spearhead Tom Lynch through suspension, Hotton could spend time deep inside the Tigers' 50. But as Yze sees it, Hotton has the capacity to play deep, high and even pinch hit in the middle of the ground. 'He's just a pure forward, so we can play him at either line. He can go deep, he can play a high-forward role,' he said. 'Then he has pinch hit in the midfield in the VFL the last couple of weeks, so we might see him around the ball late in the game as well. 'We'd like to give him that exposure – whether it's this week or coming weeks.' The 183cm Hotton can play taller than his height suggests, as he launches at the footy with consummate ease. Yze says Hotton's areal power, craft at ground level and work ethic is why Richmond coaches, players and supporters are itching to see the young talent under MCG lights against Essendon. 'He's a special talent, when you've got the ability to jump and mark like he does and then at ground level do things, it's really hard to coach,' he said. 'It's the reason he went so high in the draft and the reason we rated him so highly going into the draft. 'There's all those things and then there's his work ethic, to get where he is today to be ready to play at AFL level after three VFL games is a credit to him. 'The spotlight is going to be on him like it was on Sammy (Lalor) earlier in the year and like it has been for all our first round picks. 'We've got to help him through that (and) he understands he's got a nice block of games to start feeling like he belongs at AFL level.' Richmond, with three wins, also welcomes back defender Jayden Short from injury, while Nick Vlastuin will celebrate his 250th game.
Perth Now
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Where Tigers will unleash ‘special talent'
Richmond coach Adem Yze will unleash 'special talent' Taj Hotton in a variety of roles in his highly anticipated debut on Saturday night. The Tigers selected Hotton with one of their six first round picks last year despite him missing a chunk of the year through an ACL setback. Hotton showed why he was once touted to go as high as pick No.1 prior to injury through strong performances in the VFL on return. With the absence of spearhead Tom Lynch through suspension, Hotton could spend time deep inside the Tigers' 50. But as Yze sees it, Hotton has the capacity to play deep, high and even pinch hit in the middle of the ground. 'He's just a pure forward, so we can play him at either line. He can go deep, he can play a high-forward role,' he said. 'Then he has pinch hit in the midfield in the VFL the last couple of weeks, so we might see him around the ball late in the game as well. 'We'd like to give him that exposure – whether it's this week or coming weeks.' The 183cm Hotton can play taller than his height suggests, as he launches at the footy with consummate ease. Richmond will unveil another one of its top picks this Saturday in Taj Hotton (third from left). Michael Klein Credit: News Corp Australia Yze says Hotton's areal power, craft at ground level and work ethic is why Richmond coaches, players and supporters are itching to see the young talent under MCG lights against Essendon. 'He's a special talent, when you've got the ability to jump and mark like he does and then at ground level do things, it's really hard to coach,' he said. 'It's the reason he went so high in the draft and the reason we rated him so highly going into the draft. 'There's all those things and then there's his work ethic, to get where he is today to be ready to play at AFL level after three VFL games is a credit to him. 'The spotlight is going to be on him like it was on Sammy (Lalor) earlier in the year and like it has been for all our first round picks. 'We've got to help him through that (and) he understands he's got a nice block of games to start feeling like he belongs at AFL level.' Richmond, with three wins, also welcomes back defender Jayden Short from injury, while Nick Vlastuin will celebrate his 250th game.
The Australian
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
AFL 2025: Richmond defender Josh Gibcus will return, while another Tiger will be unleashed on full minutes
Richmond defender Josh Gibcus will pull on the jumper for the first time in nearly 500 days when he returns to action through the VFL. Gibcus has had a difficult 18 months after sustaining an ACL rupture in the Tigers' second game of 2024. Prior to that injury, the promising key back had a series of hamstring troubles which he sought treatment for overseas. He will make his long-awaited return this weekend in Richmond's reserves against Geelong on Sunday. 'Yeah he's (Gibcus) playing some VFL footy which is awesome, he's been chomping at the bit for the last few weeks,' Richmond coach Adem Yze said. Richmond defender Josh Gibcus (R) will make his long awaited return through the VFL this Sunday. Picture: David Caird 'He's finally got that opportunity, a big smile comes on my face when you say his name and I can't wait. 'They obviously play the next day so there will be a heap of staff staying down to be there and support him through it. 'We can't wait to see him out there.' The Tigers will be without the experience of Tom Lynch in the senior side on Saturday but have some promising inclusions to the twos. Jayden Short will accompany Gibcus in returning from injury and, according to Yze, will play 70 to 80 per cent game time before being available next week. The Tigers will also look to 'unleash' untried draftee Taj Hotton, who has built steadily from ACL recovery in recent weeks. 'It's a bit about everything, really, we've got to make sure he's (Hotton) ready to play AFL footy and not just play, he's got to perform and be ready to perform,' Yze said. Richmond will 'unleash' untried draftee Taj Hotton on full minutes this weekend. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) 'Last week was his first full game, it was still managed minutes or managed rotations, so he's played 80 per cent game time at VFL. 'This week we'll let him go, we'll unleash him, he gets to play as much game time as he can. 'Then it's around recovery and how he pulls up, we've got eight games to go and we've got make sure when he comes in we want him to stay in. 'We've got to make sure he's pulling up OK, give him the best chance – he's obviously a highly talented guy but we've got to set him up the right way.' Tyler Lewis Sports reporter Tyler Lewis is a sports reporter based in Melbourne's south east. @tmlew_ Tyler Lewis
