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Sport Nation
Find your Sport Nation frequencyThe Tiger cubs who King and Cornes are loving
Andrew Slevison • April 25th, 2025 11:37 am
Richmond went down by 20 points to Melbourne in the Anzac Eve clash at the MCG on Thursday night.
The rebuilding Tigers were well and truly in the contest for the first half before the Demons piled on six goals to one in the third term.
Adem Yze’s outfit saved some face with a four-goal burst in the fourth to make it a more respectable scoreline but they were able to replicate last week’s heroics agains the Suns.
Despite the defeat, there were plenty of positive signs for the youthful Tigers which were highlighted by David King and Kane Cornes.
King was enamoured with Luke Trainor who continues to impress in defence after being taken with Pick 21 in last year’s draft.
“I tell you who I’m in love with - Trainor,” King said on SEN’s Fireball.
“Trainor looks to me like a serious player. Six intercepts last night, four of those were marks.
“I just love the way that he is so composed and controlled for a young player. I know everyone is talking about our man Lalor, and rightly so, he does move like a star.
“But I just think Trainor might be the sneaky pick of the rest.”
Cornes added: “They’re really boring with their ball movement, even off turnover they’re initial instinct is to go wide and slow the play down.
“Off turnover, go fast. Trainor is one that is prepared to pick it off and is a good ball user, good intercept marker.”
Trainor had 16 disposals, nine marks and six intercepts in his seventh appearance at AFL level and is building a nice debut season.
As is No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor who is so composed whenever he’s near the ball.
While Lalor only had 10 touches on Thursday night, he rarely makes a mistake and contributed with a goal and a goal assist, possessing the innate ability to find his teammates in tight situations.
Cornes is loving what he is seeing from Lalor who has spent the majority of his time at AFL level playing as a forward with small stints in the midfield.
“Lalor is something else, he really is,” said Cornes.
“I’m captivated by what a good footballer he is. That sounds so simplistic, but he makes the right decisions at the right time with the right option.
“There’s not an ounce of selfishness in him, he’s already got that team-first aspect, he glides in the air.
“There’s a lot to be positive about.”
Cornes’ love of Lalor prompted him to ask the question - Would you take Sam Lalor or Harley Reid?
King replied: “Harley Reid. I think the kid will settle down.
“I think he’ll be a top player, he does some things…”
Cornes said: “Even though I’ve been critical of Reid’s actions, I’ve said in four to five years the product is going to be (great).
“But I think I’m taking Lalor. I think he is a better ball user and he has a bit more nuance and smarts in his game.
“He appears to be better over his head. The way he floats through the air…”
King added further: “Some of his handballing… he’s a Shane Edwards.
“He’s a handballer that you don’t recognise at the time but they put their teammates into clear space.”
Another Tigers youngster who comes highly rated is Josh Smillie who was taken wth Pick 7 last year.
Smillie is working his way back from a pre-season hamstring injury and played his first full VFL game on Thursday, picking up 23 disposals in a heavy loss to Casey.
Richmond assistant Ben Rutten is expecting that Smillie will soon be seen strutting his stuff in the senior side, following the six debutants the club has already unveiled this year.
“He’s getting closer,” Rutten said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“He’s had a bit of a hamstring injury that put him back five or six weeks, so the first few games at VFL level have been on restricted or limited minutes.
“Thursday was his first game that was unrestricted. It wasn’t a great day for our VFL team but he got some important minutes.
“He’ll be playing at AFL level pretty soon I’m sure. Like all of our younger players we want to make sure they come in and they’re confident and we pick them and keep them in the team.”
The 2-5 Tigers, who debuted Campbell Gray against the Dees, will next take on Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday in Round 8.
