Giant of the amateurs given SSP shot with Richmond

Another VAFA product has made his way into an AFL environment, with 207cm ruckman Boston Dowling receiving an invitation to train at Richmond.

The supplementary selection period (SSP), formally ends on March 2nd, meaning Dowling has just six days to impress decision makers at Punt Road, in a bid to land an AFL contract.

The Tigers have kept tabs on the 20-year-old since his time in the traditional talent pathway, and have had their interest piqued by his form at VAFA, and VFL level in the last few years. In Old Trinity's Grand Final triumph over Caulfield in September, the big man put his best foot forward, registering three majors, 10 score involvements and 18 hit-outs, while sharing ruck duties.

The proud Shepparton native played for the Oakleigh Chargers and Murray Bushrangers as a teenager, and was exposed to VFL football by Collingwood last season. Defecting to Essendon's reserves program over the summer, Dowling suited up against the Tigers' twos, who he will now train alongside, last Friday.

The Tigers also announced that basketball convert Marcus Krasnadamskis will conclude his trial with the club, having trained with the AFL program since November, and that the sidelined Tom Burton will likely feature in their VFL practice match this weekend, in a last gasp attempt to showcase his wares.