Aarts was drafted by Richmond with the club's first pick and the 16th selection overall in the 2019 rookie draft.

He began his first AFL-listed season by playing reserves grade practice matches with the VFL team in March 2020, including with a three-goal haul in the last of those outings.
Aarts missed the opening round of the VFL season with injury but by the end of April was labelled "ready for an AFL opportunity" by reserves coach Craig McRae.
In mid-May, Aarts was named a round 8 non-playing AFL emergency following a strong three-goal performance in the VFL a week earlier.
He was rested for one VFL match later that month while dealing with general soreness and missed a further match in July with a minor calf injury.
He turned in an excellent VFL performance in early August, notching 24 disposals and three goals in a showing that saw him named as an AFL emergency in round 22.
While he was again an emergency in round 23, Aarts could not make an AFL debut before the beginning of the VFL finals series, where he contirbuted one goal in a qualifying final win over the Essendon reserves.
In the preliminary final a fortnight later, Aarts was reported for rough conduct against Port Melbourne's Tom O'Sullivan and received a four-week suspension.

Due to that suspension, Aarts was one of just six players on the Richmond list to play in neither the AFL nor VFL premiership winning sides in 2019.
Aarts finished the 2019 season without having made an AFL debut, but having played 16 matches and kicking 18 goals with Richmond's reserves side in the VFL.
Aarts was drafted by Richmond with the club's first pick and the 16th selection overall in the 2019 rookie draft.
He began his first AFL-listed season by playing reserves grade practice matches with the VFL team in March 2020, including with a three-goal haul in the last of those outings. Aarts missed the opening round of the VFL season with injury but by the end of April was labelled "ready for an AFL opportunity" by reserves coach Craig McRae. In mid-May, Aarts was named a round 8 non-playing AFL emergency following a strong three-goal performance in the VFL a week earlier. He was rested for one VFL match later that month while dealing with general soreness and missed a further match in July with a minor calf injury. He turned in an excellent VFL performance in early August, notching 24 disposals and three goals in a showing that saw him named as an AFL emergency in round 22. While he was again an emergency in round 23, Aarts could not make an AFL debut before the beginning of the VFL finals series, where he contirbuted one goal in a qualifying final win over the Essendon reserves. In the preliminary final a fortnight later, Aarts was reported for rough conduct against Port Melbourne's Tom O'Sullivan and received a four-week suspension.
Due to that suspension, Aarts was one of just six players on the Richmond list to play in neither the AFL nor VFL premiership winning sides in 2019. Aarts finished the 2019 season without having made an AFL debut, but having played 16 matches and kicking 18 goals with Richmond's reserves side in the VFL.
Jake Aarts