Jayden Short, who will reach the 200-game milestone with Richmond in Friday night’s Dreamtime at the ‘G match against Essendon, is a big success story of the AFL’s rookie draft system.
Taken by the Tigers with their first pick (No. 11 overall) in the 2015 rookie draft, Short is a dual premiership player with the Club (2019, 2020) and a Jack Dyer Medallist (2020).
The 30-year-old is one of only three rookie-list players in the competition to have gone on and become a Best and Fairest winner at their club in a premiership year (Sydney’s Brett Kirk and Hawthorn’s Josh Gibson are the other two).
At the time of Short’s rookie-list selection by Richmond, this is what the Club’s then national recruiting manager Francis Jackson had to say about him.
“Jayden missed the first two months of the season due to injury, but returned to have a strong impact in the back half of the TAC Cup season (with Northern Knights),” Jackson said.
“He showed the flexibility to play back, midfield and forward, and performed well in all positions.
“He is a balanced player who has good skills on either side, and genuine speed to break the lines.
“He is also composed with the footy and makes good decisions.”
After making his senior debut with Richmond in Round 2, 2016 v Collingwood at the MCG, and kicking three goals playing as a small forward, Short developed into a top-class rebounding defender. He also had a successful stint at one stage through the Tigers midfield.
His capacity to cover the ground with hard, quick running, and then turn defence into attack through penetrating long kicks, has made him such a valuable asset for Richmond’s line-up.
Metres gained is a key statistical category in AFL football, and Short is elite in this regard.
He highlighted this in the 2020 Grand Final against Geelong at the Gabba, when he had a whopping 771 metres gained, which was 150 more than any other player on the ground (Geelong’s Tom Stewart was next with 624).
Along with those 771 metres gained, Short had 25 disposals, nine contested possessions, three marks, seven rebound-50s, seven inside-50s, eight intercepts, six score involvements and six tackles.
So impressive was Short in Richmond’s glorious Grand Final triumph that night, he finished second to Dustin Martin in the Norm Smith Medal voting.
The previous year, Short had been a valuable contributor when the Tigers annihilated Greater Western Sydney in the 2019 Grand Final at the MCG, finishing the premiership-decider with 19 disposals, six marks, five rebound-50s, three score involvements, five intercepts, four tackles and 399 metres gained.
Across his AFL career, Short is averaging 20.6 disposals, 5.3 marks, 4.4 rebound-50s, 2.8 inside-50s, 3.8 intercepts, 3.6 score involvements and 483.2 metres gained per match.
Short also has managed to kick 39 goals throughout his AFL career, despite playing predominantly as a defender.
More than half those goals have come from beyond 50 metres (mainly on the run), underlining his booming right boot. Many times, he has snuck up alongside a teammate lining up for a long set shot, received the handball, and roosted it through the big sticks.
The 30-year-old remains an important member of a Richmond side that is in a rebuilding phase.
He is still racking up strong statistical numbers, averaging 25.2 disposals, 81.9 percent disposal efficiency, 8.2 marks, 5.0 rebound-50s, 3.0 inside-50s, 3.7 score involvements, 4.3 intercepts and 495.6 metres gained so far this season.
Also, with his vast football experience and great passion for the Club, he is providing admirable leadership for the large group of young Tigers.