Jake Batchelor Appointed as Richmond’s VFL Coach

Richmond Football Club has officially announced the appointment of Jake Batchelor as their new VFL senior coach. Batchelor, a former player for the club, will be stepping into the role following the departure of Steve Morris, who is set to join the AFL’s coaching ranks as an assistant coach.

Batchelor, who is 32 years old, makes a return to the Swinburne Centre after a seven-year absence. His coaching journey included a stint as a playing assistant coach at Frankston VFL, followed by six years at St Kilda, where he held a prominent role in the development of players within their coaching setup.

The former 84-game player for Richmond has been at the helm of the Sandringham Zebras, St Kilda’s VFL-aligned team, since October 2020. Over the past four seasons, Batchelor has been responsible for steering the team and honing emerging talents.

“It is very exciting to be back at Richmond,” Batchelor stated. “Although the environment remains familiar, there are numerous new faces. The prospect of building new relationships and working collectively towards a common goal greatly excites me. I look forward to mentoring young players and gauging how far we can advance as a club.”

Tim Livingstone, Richmond’s General Manager of Football Performance, expressed confidence in Batchelor’s appointment, highlighting his proven track record in player development. “Jake has a passion for working with athletes to challenge, motivate, and inspire them towards reaching their potential,” Livingstone remarked. “He is young, energetic, and possesses strong game knowledge.”

In contrast, Steve Morris leaves the VFL coaching position with a commendable record. During his three-year tenure, he secured 31 victories out of 54 games, leading the team to the Wildcard Finals Round in consecutive seasons. Despite challenges such as player availability due to AFL restrictions, his 10-8 record during the 2024 season stood out.

Livingstone commented on Morris’s legacy, “Steve has been instrumental in our VFL program over the years. His transition to the AFL’s assistant coach role marks another significant step in his coaching development.”