Exciting, young prospect Mabior Chol will make his AFL debut with Richmond in Saturday’s final home-and-away round match of the 2016 season, against Sydney at the SCG.

Chol, who was promoted from Richmond’s rookie list to the senior list earlier today, becomes the Club’s eighth league football debutant this year.

The Sudanese-born, tall, left-foot utility, was the Tigers’ second pick (No. 30 overall) in the AFL rookie draft held late last year.

He’d been a member of the Brisbane Lions Academy for two years, and had represented Queensland in the 2015 AFL under-18 championships.

Throughout his first season at Richmond in 2016, the 198cm, 78kg, 19-year-old has made impressive progress playing with the Tigers’ VFL team.

Chol has showcased his eye-catching attributes of pace, agility and slick skills, in key roles at both ends of the ground.

Richmond’s VFL coach Craig McRae, in his weekly summary for richmondfc.com.au, of how the team’s players performed on match day, was particularly complimentary of Chol’s performance against Sandringham last Sunday.

“Played down back in one of his more consistent four-quarter performances,” McRae said.

“He’s had concentration lapses in recent weeks, but didn’t have them in this game and he was strong.

“When the game had its most pressure, he was standing up.

“I was really proud of his 13 disposals and his effort on the day.”

Richmond has made just one change to its line-up for the final round clash, with Chol replacing Connor Menadue, who has been omitted.

The Tigers’ three emergencies for the match are Menadue, Nathan Broad and Dan Butler.



The Round 23 Richmond team

B: Rance, Astbury, Grimes

HB: Short, Hunt, B. Ellis

C: A. Moore, Edwards, Cotchin

HF: Martin, Rioli, Markov

F: Riewoldt, Lloyd, Lambert

R: Hampson, Grigg, Vlastuin

IC: Chol, Houli, C. Moore, Elton

Em: Broad, Menadue, Butler

In: Chol

Out: Menadue

New: Mabior Chol, 19, 198cm, 78kg, utility from Yeronga/Aspley (Qld). Richmond’s second pick (No. 30 overall) in the AFL rookie draft late last year.

Milestone: Alex Rance, 150 AFL games.