[6] Despite the latter of those seasons being hampered by a foot injury, McIntosh managed an average of 13 disposals a game in a defensive role in the VFL in the month of August.[15] He returned to the top level after just one match though and hit strong form immediately, turning in 22 disposals and six tackles in the club's round 3 win over West Coast.[16][17] He remained in the club's AFL side for the rest of the home and away season, turning in 20 or more disposals on three occasions, including a 24 touch and five tackle match against North Melbourne in round 11.[9] In round 22 he recorded 20 disposals, but also attracted attention for his involvement in an off-ball incident with Devon Smith in which the Essendon midfielder swung at, and narrowly avoided making contact with, McIntosh's jaw.[41] In round 4 win over Port Adelaide, McIntosh attracted a $1,000 fine for misconduct after laying a dangerous tackle on opposition midfielder Ollie Wines.[59] He was instead named an emergency, ultimately becoming one of just six players on the Richmond list to play in neither the AFL NM VFL premiership winning sides that season.[67][68] Though surgery was not required, McIntosh would miss five weeks of training in order to repair the injury and was slated to return to fitness before the club's final pre-season series match.[70][71][72] McIntosh could not earn selection to AFL level when the season began a week later, and was instead a non-playing emergency for the win over Carlton that was played without crowds in attendance due to public health prohibitions on large gatherings.[85] Despite what Fox Sports called a "poor" performance in his return to AFL level, McIntosh held his place over the coming weeks including after the club and all its Victorian counterparts were relocated to the Gold Coast in response to a virus outbreak in Melbourne.[86][87] In the club's first week on the Gold Coast, McIntosh played a starring role in Richmond's round 6 win over Sydney, earning two Coaches Association award votes for a performance that included 24 disposals and 540 metres gained.[9][93] In addition to his premiership silverware, McIntosh earned the Kevin Bartlett medal for a career-best fifth place finish in the club's best and fairest count, despite playing just 18 of a possible 21 matches that season.
McIntosh handballs in the round 10, 2019 Dreamtime at the 'G match