Sam Toner Led Richmond’s VFL Goalkicking. What Is Richmond Actually Deciding Now?
Sam Toner finished 2026 as Richmond’s leading VFL goalkicker with 21 goals. His year included a six-goal performance, a 24-disposal three-goal game against Essendon, and enough interest for Richmond and rival clubs to consider him around the Mid-Season Rookie Draft. Richmond used its pick on a different list need, but Toner kept producing.
That still does not answer the AFL question. Richmond now has two years of first-party evidence on a 20-year-old forward/wing whose speed, aerial ability, forward craft and capacity to work higher up the ground have all developed. Which of those traits actually survives the jump to AFL football, and what would the club need to see before a strong VFL season becomes an AFL list decision?
The complication is bigger than one player. Richmond’s VFL program is meant to develop footballers, and recent Tigers have used that pathway to reach AFL lists. If one of the next low-cost recruits is already inside Punt Road, how should Richmond compare him with a late draft pick or an external state-league option — and what proof should stop familiarity becoming sentiment? The member feature investigates the decision Richmond now has to make.
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