PATRICK Naish was cheering as loud as any Richmond supporter at the MCG last Saturday as the success-starved club broke a 37-year flag-drought with a 48-point Grand Final win over Adelaide.

As of next season, there is the very real prospect the young midfielder, and passionate Tigers supporter, could be training and playing with his premiership heroes as Richmond contemplates selecting the son of former forward Chris as a father-son draftee in this year's NAB AFL Draft.

However, the 18-year-old is quick to reaffirm he was not one of the hordes of Tigers supporters to descend on Swan St after the game.

After all he had more important things on this week, like showing clubs what he can do at this week's NAB AFL Draft Combine.

"At the start (once the Tigers had won) I was more in shock and couldn't believe what had happened," Naish told AFL.com.au.

"It was unreal."

Naish has supported the Tigers his whole life and has a strong desire to join the club if it is prepared to take him as a father-son selection.

However, the Northern Knights prospect is also "keeping his options open" and understands the process of the academy/father-son bidding system can be a complex one.

Richmond has selections No.15 and No.17 in the first round of this year's draft and it is highly likely the Tigers will have to select him with one of those picks even if another club does not lodge a bid for Naish.

The son of former Tiger Chris Naish, who played 143 games with the Tigers between 1990-97 (before 18 games with Port Adelaide), has become a regular face at the Tigers this year.

Naish had the opportunity to train with the Tigers on a full-time basis in December last year as part of the NAB AFL Academy's program. He's also spent time there periodically (whether that be weights training or looking at video edits of his TAC Cup performances with Richmond assistant Andrew McQualter) over the last few years.

"It's been really good to get an insight into where the club's heading and on a personal level to get an understanding of the intensity the players train at and how they go about their lives 24/7," Naish said.

"That's something I want the opportunity to do next year so I've just got to keep continuing to work up to that level."

Patrick Naish was a consistent performer for the Northern Knights. Picture: AFL Photos

Naish believes the bonds he has already formed with the players and coaches at the club will help him make the transition to being a professional athlete, should he end up at Richmond.

Captain Trent Cotchin took him out for lunch on his birthday in January and he worked closely with Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes and Brandon Ellis on the defensive aspects of his game.

"They just brought me in straight away. They were open for me to see them whenever I wanted and I could have chats with them about footy or life and I felt like helped me a lot," Naish said.

Naish averaged 21.8 disposals (ranked 12th in the competition) for Vic Metro during this year's Under-18 Championships and was named as an All Australian after a standout carnival, where he thrived in the midfield and also off half-back.

He also averaged 13 kicks from his four games, ranked second out of all the players to appear in the Championships, and as a creative onballer he thrives when taking the game on and tucking the footy under his arm.

Despite the strong form he produced throughout the year for Vic Metro, the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup and for Ivanhoe Grammar at school level, Naish remains in the dark about Richmond's plans for him in the upcoming draft.

"Nothing's set in stone and they haven't given much away," Naish said.

"They were obviously focused on winning the 'Granny' which is fair enough but they haven't given me an indication of where I sit either way at this stage."

Naish credits father Chris for helping him get to this point of his career, but he also joked his Dad enjoyed pulling out his own highlight tapes from his Richmond days far too often.

Chris Naish also played 18 games for Port Adelaide between 1998 and 1999, with Patrick, who was born in 1999, being told he was in attendance for at least one of his father's games – although, of course, he can't remember it.

"On-field he gives me little pointers on what I need to do to improve and off-field it's just with organisation and having that mental strength to go throughout what has been a long year.

"I owe a lot to him."