Richmond vs Adelaide changed quickly before Round 9, with Luke Trainor replacing Sam Grlj in the Tigers' side. It is one change, but it alters Richmond's selected team as it tries to back up a recent win on Sunday at the MCG.
Trainor Returns For Round 9
Trainor will play his fourth AFL game this season and his first since Gather Round. Richmond chose him after a strong VFL outing on Anzac Day, when he posted 28 disposals, 11 marks and nine intercepts. That kind of return gives the Tigers another option in a match where every senior spot matters.
Sam Grlj has been managed for the clash. He had played every game so far in his debut campaign, and his rise had already been recognized in Round 7 when he was named the Rising Star after a starring effort against Melbourne. Richmond has now shifted course for this week, putting a different player into the selected side for the same role.
Sam Grlj Managed
Grlj's season line explains why this is a notable swap. He is averaging 16.1 disposals and 9.1 kicks per game, which shows how regularly he has been involved in Richmond's ball movement. Removing that production from the team sheet creates a direct opening for Trainor, who must translate his VFL numbers into AFL level minutes.
The Tigers have made one change ahead of a date with Adelaide at the MCG this Sunday, and the move sits inside a broader effort to build on the last result. Richmond will aim to win its second straight game, which keeps the focus on selection choices that can hold up under pressure rather than on broad reshaping of the lineup.
Yze Keeps Balta Role
Adem Yze will keep using Noah Balta in the dual role of ruck-forward, so the structure around Trainor stays familiar. Richmond is not forcing a bigger rethink around the team; instead, it is backing one change and asking another young player to fill in where Grlj has been a regular senior presence. On Sunday, that puts Trainor directly into a side chasing another win without losing continuity in the rest of the setup.
