RICHMOND midfielder Patrick Retschko's outstanding performance in Friday night's Dreamtime at the 'G clash has earned him the Telstra AFL Rising Star nomination for round 11.
Retschko was one of the Tigers' best in their hard-fought 18-point win over the Essendon, even earning six votes to finish second in the Yiokeen Award voting - with two judges voting him as best afield.Â
The 20-year-old, who crossed to the Tigers at the end of last season after one year with Geelong, registered 27 disposals, nine score involvements, eight marks and 499m gained from 84 per cent game time in his best outing of the season.
Retschko debuted for the Tigers in round six and hasn't been out of the side since.
Richmond made a move for the young midfielder on the final day of last year's Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period, trading pick No.99 to Geelong for him.
In a unique trade week twist, Retschko had been delisted by the Cats before the deal was done but the Tigers chose to do a deal to get him to Punt Road rather than making him wait until the free agency window opened in November.
Taken by the Cats with pick No.23 in the 2024 rookie draft, Retschko didn't play a senior game at Kardinia Park. However, he played 18 games for Geelong's VFL side in 2025, averaging just under 22 disposals a game and kicking at least one goal in 11 of his state level appearances.
The win over the Bombers was the Tigers' second victory of the season, having also beaten West Coast on the road in round eight. It moved them off the bottom of the table, anchoring the one-win Essendon to last spot.
More to come
2026 Telstra AFL Rising Star nominees
Opening Round: Leo Lombard (Gold Coast)
Round one: Jagga Smith (Carlton)
Round two: Jobe Shanahan (West Coast)
Round three: Willem Duursma (West Coast)
Round four:Â Cooper Trembath (North Melbourne)
Round five:Â Jacob Farrow (Essendon)
Round six: Phoenix Gothard (Greater Western Sydney)
Round seven: Sam Grlj (Richmond)
Round eight: Jack Whitlock (Port Adelaide)
Round nine: Sullivan Robey (Essendon)
Round 10: Josh Lindsay (West Coast)
Round 11: Patrick Retschko (Richmond)
