round of matches was played of the reduced 17-round season before the imposition of state border restrictions saw the season suspended for an indefinite hiatus. Naish was a non-playing emergency when the season resumed after an 11-week hiatus, playing an unofficial scratch match against 's reserves that same week due to AFL clubs' withdrawal from the VFL season. After three more scratch matches at reserves level including a three-goal haul against , Naish moved with the main playing group when the club was relocated to the Gold Coast in response to a virus outbreak in Melbourne. Three matches into that stay, Naish was recalled to AFL level as a replacement for injured winger Josh Caddy in round 8's match against . As with all matches that year, it was held with playing time reduced by one fifth, owing to the possibility of further pandemic-induced fixture changes and the need to play multiple games on short breaks later in the year. He recorded nine disposals in the match, and was subsequently dropped from the senior side for round 9. Following that, Naish spent the remaining three months of the season at reserves level, where he featured mainly as a half-back. Naish played one AFL match that year, in what was another premiership-winning season for the club. 2021 season Naish began the 2021 season playing reserves grade football in VFL pre-season practice matches in March and into the start of the season proper in April. After recording 33 and 28 disposals in the first two matches of the reserves season, Naish earned elevation to AFL level as the designated medical substitute for the club's round 7 match against the . He recorded one disposal in five percent game time (coming on to replace Trent Cotchin in the fourth quarter) and then another one disposal in 12 percent game time in the same role in round 8, replacing the injured Shane Edwards. Naish was elevated to the starting 22 for round 9, and was listed by AFL Media as one of Richmond's best players after recording 15 disposals in that come-from-behind win over . He remained in the senior side for one further match, before a hamstring injury saw him left out of the round 11 team. Naish returned to fitness through the VFL in June, before being recalled to the senior side for a round 16 match against the . He held