McIntosh set for MCG farewell to ‘unbloodybelievable’ Richmond career

Kamdyn McIntosh will play his 213th and final game for Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.

Dual premiership Tiger Kamdyn McIntosh has announced to teammates that Saturday’s clash against Geelong at the MCG will be his final game for the Club.

The 31-year-old has played 212 games across 13 years at Richmond, including every match this year, after being selected with pick No. 31 overall from Pinjarra, Western Australia in the 2012 AFL National Draft.

McIntosh said that all he ever wanted to do was to play an AFL game and get his name on a locker, but the fulfilment he received at the Tigers was so much more.

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“I have had some incredible highs and some real lows during my time here. The 2017 Grand Final, it is on par with one of the greatest achievements of my life," McIntosh said.

“To see what it meant to all the fans, my family, my friends and to know that all the hard work that the playing group had put in had gotten us there.

“To get the ultimate success, you have to work incredibly hard, no doubt about it.

“Richmond has changed my life. I have grown up here. This Club has become a family to me. (It) gave me a home away from home.

“I will be forever grateful that (the Club) gave this boy from Pinjarra more than he could ever have dreamt of.

“It is such an honour to have put the jumper on at this Club.”

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McIntosh had to bide his time before senior opportunities came his way, waiting until Round 1 of his third season in 2015 to make his AFL debut.

A popular figure internally, McIntosh then wasted no time endearing himself to the Tiger Army in his debut match, gathering 23 disposals and kicking a goal to claim that week's AFL Rising Star nomination.

McIntosh went on to play in all 23 games for the Tigers that year and kicked a goal in what was his first finals match, as Richmond lost to North Melbourne in a tight Elimination Final at the MCG.

After an injury-affected 2016, McIntosh was a part of the Richmond team that returned to finals action in 2017.

With less than 50 games of experience at the time, the West Australian held down a vital wing-role in a history-making Richmond team that finished in the top four and convincingly won three finals to snap a 37-year premiership drought.

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McIntosh was again a key figure as the Tigers claimed the minor premiership with 18 wins in 2018 and booted an equal career-high three goals in the Qualifying Final win against Hawthorn.

McIntosh bounced back from the individual disappointment of being an emergency on Grand Final day in 2019 to play a stellar season as the Tigers went back-to-back in 2020.

After earning his spot back in the senior team in Round 4 that season, McIntosh played the remaining 18 games and claimed the Kevin Bartlett Medal for a career-high fifth place finish in the best and fairest, such was his influence on the team.

The reliable wingman played 89 games in the successful 2017-2020 period, where Richmond claimed three flags and a first-place finish, with his highly disciplined role crucial to the Club’s fortunes.

McIntosh’s durability, versatility and team-first skillset has also seen him remain an important player across the past five years where he has been a consistent performer and leader.

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The West Australian has played over 20 games in each of the past four seasons, fulfilling a variety of roles, including as a run-with midfielder and at both ends of the ground.

Off the field, McIntosh has been an outstanding connector and driver of culture for the Richmond playing group and broader Club.

McIntosh has annually run a first-year players camp and set an example for off-field development. In 2021, he was awarded the Club's Bunjil Award for best exemplifying Richmond values among players and administration staff.

Richmond Executive General Manager, Football Talent, Blair Hartley, congratulated McIntosh on a terrific 13-year Richmond career, adding that he had to fight for everything he was able to achieve.

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“Kamdyn did not play a game in his first two years at the Club, yet he embodied turning up every single day, determined to improve. That persistence saw him forge a 13-year career with us, win two premierships, and become one of our most respected players,” Hartley said.

“He is the ultimate team player – the type of person you build a football program around – with an exceptional attitude, strong character, and relentless work ethic.

“Kamdyn’s skill set has made us a better side over many seasons, and his premiership medals are a testament to that.

“The way he fought for his spot and his team is something we have always admired. He leaves a lasting legacy on our culture, and he will forever be a Richmond man.”

The Tiger Army will have the chance to show appreciation for McIntosh’s contribution to the Club in Saturday’s clash against Geelong at the MCG.

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