Geelong’s full squad hit the track for the first time today since the club’s September triumph against the Swans at the MCG, and as happens in the high paced AFL world, the team already looks different.
Some of the new faces are already familiar – Tanner Bruhn, Ollie Henry, and Jack Bowes were at centre of the Cats’ trade period frenzy and top draft pick Jhye Clark will be like an old friend to some supporters, such is the saturation coverage of the national draft.
But there was another player out on Windsor Park in Norlane today whose face, or at least his hair, may not be as recognisable as his Dad’s, but his name does bring instant recognition: Riccardi.
Osca Riccardi, taken with the 32nd selection in last Wednesday’s rookie draft was in early on Monday, his first opportunity to train with the full list, just to soak in what he said has been a dream come true.
“I was pretty excited,” he told the media at GMHBA Stadium dressed in fresh off the rack new Cats threads.
“I got in pretty early and just walked around and soaked it all in again, that's what I did the first three days so yeah, it's been pretty exciting”
Excited was one way to describe his father, 288 game cult hero Peter, he of the flowing locks and raking left book, when he found out his boy was off to the club that he himself called home between 1992 and 2006.
The Cats had agreed to take Osca during the rookie draft if he got through Monday and Tuesday having not been picked up by another club, which was enough to send Dad ‘crazy’, according to Osca.
“He started jumping around for joy and he was running around the house sending text messages and I said, 'Dad just relax until it all gets called out, and then we can start getting a bit more excited,' Riccardi the younger recounted.
“But yes, he was over the moon.”
On the field he arrives as a genuinely elite runner - he won the 2km time trial at the pre-draft combine in October - but despite Mum and Dad both being left-footers, the 18 year old is a right footer.
Speaking to the Geelong Addy last week, Cats Recruiting Manager Stephen Wells described Riccardi as a versatile player with a high football IQ.
“He is a very smart footballer, once he has the footy in his hands he is generally able to make good decisions and execute the skills, so the ball stays with our team,” Wells said.
“He has the ability to play anywhere on the ground, whether that be on the outside on the wing or in the backline, or up in the forward line.”
While his face isn’t yet as familiar as his famous name, one person who will get to know him faster than most is Geelong speedster Max Holmes, a Riccardi inspiration.
“I’ve based my game off Max Holmes so being around him is going to be an absolute wonder for me and I can't wait to just chew his ear off and ask him a bunch of questions,” Riccardi laughed.
“So he's going to be a bit annoyed with me at the end of the session but it's all beneficial.”
