Former Perth Wildcats centre Ollie Hayes-Brown ‘in the mix’ to debut for Richmond against Fremantle

A former Perth Wildcats basketballer who switched to footy less than three years ago is in the frame for an AFL baptism of fire, with a potential debut looming against Fremantle’s formidable ruck duo.

Ollie Hayes-Brown - a 208cm giant who made 13 NBL appearances across two seasons with the Wildcats as a development player - is “in the mix” to face the Dockers, according to Tigers coach Adem Yze.

Richmond have been left scrambling to address a ruck crisis in the wake of captain Toby Nankervis’ hamstring injury during last weekend’s loss to Gold Coast.

It has vaulted 25-year-old Hayes-Brown firmly into contention to earn an unlikely call-up, just two-and-a-half years since crossing codes and signing with the Tigers as a Category B rookie.

Hayes-Brown lined up in local football for VAFA side Old Ivanhoe in the early stages of his transition between sports but is now regular for Richmond’s VFL side, playing 26 reserves games since debuting in June 2024.

Yze said “a couple of different models” were being assessed to cover for Nankervis, but Hayes-Brown would feature in the match committee’s deliberations.

“He will be in the mix when we talk through that,” Yze said.

“We could fill it with different people that have done it — Campbell Gray helped us out in the ruck in the last few weeks and then obviously went and played down back on the weekend at VFL level.

“Samson Ryan’s coming back and playing some footy this weekend, but it won’t be at AFL level.

“We’ll have those discussions later (on Wednesday) afternoon and work out the best fit, but he’ll be in those discussions, for sure.”

In the first round of the VFL season on Saturday, Hayes-Brown was well beaten in the ruck battle by one of the reserves competition’s premier big men in Southport’s Brayden Crossley, losing the hit-out count 40-15.

But he was able to have an impact around the ground, winning 15 contested possessions, hauling in four contested marks and having five clearances.

The shape of Fremantle’s ruck division is also in flux for their clash with the Tigers, with Luke Jackson only a light participant at training on Tuesday due to a cork in his leg suffered during an impressive win over his former side Melbourne on Saturday.

Sean Darcy struggled to contain Max Gawn against the Demons after Mason Cox impressed in a WAFL practice match for Peel Thunder, recording 17 disposals and 38 hit-outs in unofficial statistics taken by The West Australian.

The Dockers will enter the clash as overwhelming favourites, rated as a $1.05 near-certainty on TABtouch against Richmond’s head-to-head odds of $10. It’s the shortest price Fremantle have started at for a game since the second western derby of last year, which resulted in a 49-point win.

A very wet Saturday which may feature up to 60mm of rain and winds as strong as 55km/h is being forecast as Cyclone Narelle makes its way down the WA coast.

Richmond remiership stars Tom Lynch (hamstring) and Nathan Broad (calf) will also be sidelined by issues which emerged in the loss to the Suns, figuring on a growing injury list alongside Rhyan Mansell (wrist) and first-round draft picks Sam Cumming (shoulder) and Josh Smillie (quad).