Richmond will consider asking the VFL for permission to allow star talents and youngsters Taj Hotton and Josh Smillie to feature in the finals series.
The Tigers' reserves outfit has a Wildcard Round clash against GWS after finishing eighth. The match will be held at ETU Stadium on Saturday.
To be eligible to play in the VFL finals, players must have participated in six reserves games during the season and played no more than 12 AFL games.
Smillie (four VFL games) and Hotton (three) have fallen under the competition requirements, but their circumstances could work in their favour.
The pair have both endured injuries that have kept them sidelined for large parts of the 2025 campaign.
Smillie has had multiple hamstring setbacks and is currently managing a quad issue, while Hotton's season began later in the year due to tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2024.
Hotton has played six AFL games to date, which will turn into seven following Saturday's match against Geelong. Smillie hasn't debuted.
Richmond coach Adem Yze discussed the prospect of the pair playing VFL finals.
"We'll have those discussions over the next few weeks, and work out which players need to play, and obviously, ones that need more game time, or the ones we want to put away and rest up for next year," Yze said.
"There are some we might ask for permission, based on injury, but with Taj, it might be, not only daunting, but the weight of expectation and playing AFL footy, even if it is only seven or eight games, we'll make that decision to do the best for him.
"He (Smillie) might need some time. He's obviously missed some footy. He hasn't had the luxury of playing AFL footy. He might be someone we might ask for permission, but he'll be able to play, based on numbers.
"Those discussions will happen, but we'll do the best by our player."
Former Carlton midfielder Will Setterfield is a recent example of a player granted availability for the reserves competition.
Setterfield played six games in the reserves in 2022, but was listed for 13 AFL games, albeit as an unused medical substitute for one match.
He was seen as under the maximum 12-game threshold and featured for the Blues in an upset elimination final win against arch-rivals Collingwood.
Setterfield gathered 40 disposals, 10 clearances and kicked two goals.
