Benjamin Griffiths Biography

Ben Griffiths retires from AFL football to take up a college scholarship as an American football punter after earning a full four-year scholarship with the University of South California.

"Ultimately the opportunity was too good to refuse," Griffiths said.

"It certainly wasn't something I had been contemplating and only arose two weeks ago.

"It was tough telling my teammates and coaches this morning but they understand and support my decision."

Ben Griffiths' hopes of making an AFL comeback have hit a roadblock after he suffered a right shoulder injury in the VFL against Collingwood on Sunday.

It was the 25-year-old's second game back following a two-and-a-half-month layoff after repeated concussions.

Griffiths contested a centre bounce early in the second term at the Punt Road Oval and followed up his efforts by attempting to tackle a Magpies opponent on the wing, only to injure his shoulder in the heavy contact.

The 200cm forward immediately went to ground clutching his arm and was assisted off the ground by trainers.

Injury-prone Richmond forward Ben Griffiths suffers his second concussion of the season in the VFL.

"Griffo played in the VFL on the weekend, and he copped another one (concussion) as well," Richmond football manager Neil Balme told 3AW radio.

"It's hard work and it's not looking good for him, and we're not quite sure where that will go either.

"We're probably over-conservative but I think that's the way we need to be."

Groin surgery late last year for Richmond key forward Ben Griffiths means he is yet to return to full training.

"I had an ongoing groin problem towards the end of the season last year and then we ended up deciding to go in for an adductor release, just to release the pressure from the area and off the adductor tendon," Griffiths said.

"It's very minor and I've just been progressing from then. I'm really optimistic about getting back into the main group and the full ground stuff pretty soon."

Ben Griffiths signs a new deal with Richmond that will keep him at the club until the end of 2018.

"Ben has all the attributes of a powerful key forward, and we've seen how valuable he can be in some of his performances this season," Richmond football manager Dan Richardson said.

"We're looking forward to Ben taking his game to another level next season and beyond."

Ben Griffiths says he is starting to believe he can be an important part of his team after playing a match-winning role and kicking a career-best five goals in Richmond's one-point win over the Sydney Swans.

It was just his second game back after a stint in the VFL, and the 24-year-old said he now knew what he had to do to become the consistent forward the Tigers were desperate for him to be.

"I'm just starting to really believe how important I can be to the team," Griffiths said.

"With a lot of injuries can come some self-doubt, and when you're not performing to the level you know you can, it can get frustrating.

"I saw getting dropped as a really good opportunity to go back and really work on the basics."

Ben Griffiths will be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks, with surgery required to repair a tendon in his finger, which he injured in the round 17 loss to Fremantle.

The best possible scenario on the Tigers' timeline would see him return for a preliminary final.

Ben Griffiths will be sidelined for up to three weeks after having minor surgery on his shoulder.

Ben Griffiths is training for a new role up the ground in 2015 as he looks to build on the most encouraging period of his short career.

Griffiths, who impressed in the final six games of the Tigers' season last year, has taken momentum into this pre-season, stripping weight and building his engine.

"This season I'm going to be playing a bit higher up the ground, so I just need to increase my aerobic capacity," Griffiths said.

"I feel like I'm moving a lot better than I was last year. I've lost a bit of weight so my mobility is a bit higher.

"I was playing at 104kg last year, which I needed, but I think the way the game's going and the role that I'm playing, I needed to lose a bit and run a bit better."

Ben Griffiths signs a new contract with Richmond that will keep him at the club until the end of 2016.

"Ben has been able to cement his spot in the team through hard work and perseverance, and it's a great reward for him to be able to develop further over the next two seasons and beyond," Richmond football manager Dan Richardson said.

Aaron Edwards, Jake Batchelor, Ben Griffiths and Todd Elton sign one-year deals with Richmond.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says his side must keep developing the likes of Ben Griffiths to assist in-form forward Jack Riewoldt who kicked six goals in a 38-point loss to the Saints.

"Our forward line is going to be our achilles heel for the time being. Jack to his credit was outstanding and I thought he had some quality opposition," Hardwick said.

"What we've got to do is develop that forward line so we can get him some help down there - it was an outstanding individual effort but he needs some help down there no doubt."

Benjamin Griffiths makes his AFL debut for Richmond at Football Park with 5 disposals (2 kicks and 3 handballs), a mark and a tackle in a 47-point win over Port Adelaide.