Collingwood v Richmond - 2021 AFL Community Series
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 05: Callum Coleman-Jones of the Tigers kicks during the AFL Community Series match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium on March 05, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Richmond youngster Callum Coleman-Jones has exploded into the minds of opposition recruiters after a four-goal performance in just his second game of football.

The out-of-contract forward was given his first opportunity since his 2019 Round 10 debut after star forward Tom  Lynch sidelined with injury. 

With his recent performance, however, Coleman-Jones could become trouble for an already deep Richmond squad.

Richmond has an abundance of forward and ruck stocks already on their list, with tall targets Jack Riewoldt and Lynch making up a potent forward line.

In the ruck department, they have Toby Nankervis, Ivan Soldo and Mabior Chol all ahead of Coleman-Jones on the selection table.

AFL Rd 3 - Richmond v Hawthorn
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 18: The Tigers walk off after they were defeated by the Hawks during the round 3 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 18, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

With a decreased salary cap and the depth on the Richmond list, something is going to have to give.

North Melbourne champion David King told SEN he believes that it will be either Coleman-Jones or Chol to depart Punt Road as rivals circle.

“How do you stay there (if you're CCJ)? In front of you you’ve got Jack Riewoldt who they’re re-signing, Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis who’s still young as a ruckman and going nowhere and Mabior Chol’s probably in front of him as a ruckman. Some of his ruck work on the weekend was extraordinary,” King Said.

“It’s a tough one. You want to stay. You want to play in a great side and they’ve really supported him, as Damien (Hardwick) is at pains to tell us. In other words ‘hey, don’t you think of going anywhere’.

“I think it’s a tough one now. I don’t think they’ll be able to keep both of Chol and CCJ."

"I think one of them will leave.”

While the forward will likely garner significant interest in the upcoming off-season, don't expect Richmond to let him go easily.

The club has shown a great deal of belief in the forward, even after his COVID protocols breach of 2020.

Hardwick was bullish on the forward when talking with 7 news after the match. He emphasised the hard work that Callum and the club have put in.

“He was terrific. (The four-goal haul) was good reward for a guy who’s had his ups and downs,” the Richmond coach said.

“We stick with our people and we back them in.

“We’ve always known he can play the game, it was just about that opportunity to get him into the side.”