Tom Sims is set to make his return for Richmond VFL against Essendon in the Dreamtime clash at Windy Hill on Saturday morning, ending a 286-day wait for his first game at any level.

The 20-year-old last played on August 9, 2025, when he dislocated his elbow in a VFL match, and he was then sidelined by a foot injury throughout the pre-season. His comeback gives Richmond VFL another option in Round 9 as the club names four AFL inclusions for the trip to Windy Hill.

Sims’ return matters because it comes after a stop-start stretch that threatened to stall momentum built in his debut campaign last season, when he played 11 AFL games. Richmond VFL also welcomes back Kaleb Smith, Samson Ryan and Liam Fawcett for the clash, while Sam Phillips has been omitted and Dan Lowther and Austin Johnson are injured. James Milner was also omitted from the side.

The match is scheduled for 10:00am AEST on Saturday 23 May and will be shown on Fox Footy and Kayo Sports, with a live stream available on the AFL website. For Sims, it is a chance to step back into competitive football after months on the sideline; for Richmond VFL, it is a line-up with more top-level experience as it heads into one of the club’s more recognisable fixtures of the season.

What happens next is simple enough: Sims gets his first chance to prove his body is ready again. After nearly nine months away, Richmond will be watching to see whether the 20-year-old can turn a long rehab into a fresh run in the second half of the year.