Search

show me:

Tigers' strong AFL draft hand set to shape rebuild

3 minute read

Richmond will take a strong hand to the AFL draft, armed with eight picks inside the top 24 as they look to lay the foundations for another era of success.

Richmond will be under a spotlight as they attempt to turbo-charge their rebuild through what has been dubbed one of the most even AFL draft classes in memory.

The Tigers, who finished bottom of the ladder this year in Adem Yze's first season as coach, have a staggering hand of eight selections in the top 24.

It includes the coveted No.1 pick in Wednesday night's first round, plus the often sought opening selection of the second round the following night.

Exactly whose name Richmond will call first remains to be seen, with the Tigers keeping their cards close to their chest as they prepare to welcome their first No.1 pick since taking Brett Deledio in 2004.

Unlike last year, when West Coast gleefully snapped up Harley Reid with pick one, there is no obvious choice as the best underage player in the country.

A handful of talented youngsters have been billed as possible top picks during the draft build-up, including Victorian midfield prospects Sam Lalor, Finn O'Sullivan and Jagga Smith.

Tall defender Alix Tauru heads the list of key position talents after his spectacular climb into top-five contention late this year.

"We've always known that it's a strong draft," Richmond's Victorian recruiting manager Rhy Gieschen said.

"It's well documented that there's some quality midfielders in this year's draft but more recently there's some talls that have emerged, which we're excited about.

"There's some rucks and some outside players, so I think every club would be excited about the draft.

"Particularly at the top end where we're picking, I think there's something for everyone.

"It's been a difficult job narrowing it down - it is quite even - but we feel really well placed now.

"We've done a fair bit of planning and organising to get our list and our order to where it is now."

North Melbourne have been linked to Tauru with pick two, while Carlton, Adelaide and Melbourne also have selections currently in the top five.

Richmond (one, six, 10), Melbourne (five, nine) and St Kilda (seven, eight) all boast multiple top-10 picks.

Some selections will be shifted back when inevitable bids on father-son and academy prospects shake up the top end of the draft.

Reigning premiers Brisbane are poised to fend off rival bids for highly rated Levi Ashcroft (father-son) and possible first-round selection Sam Marshall (academy).

It appears unlikely Richmond will bid on Ashcroft at pick one, but it would not surprise to see another club in the top five make the call on the son of Lions great Marcus and younger brother of Norm Smith medallist Will.

Brisbane aren't sure what Ashcroft will end up costing them, with recruiting manager Steve Conole admitting he has "no idea" when the bid will come.

"I wouldn't think he'd get too far back but we'll wait and see," Conole told the AFL website.

"It's any of those sort of early picks.

"You look at history with (Sam) Darcy and (Nick) Daicos, and obviously Will (Ashcroft) a couple of years ago.

"You think you take some line of sight with those sort of selections but we'll just wait and see.

"Where it falls is where it falls. It's out of our hands."

Essendon's academy product Isaac Kako and Gold Coast's Leo Lombard could also attract high-end bids.

Twin brothers Jack and Matt Whitlock shape as possible first-round selections, which would put them in the same category as Harry and Ben McKay (2015) and Max and Ben King (2018) as twins selected at that stage of the draft.

What are you really gambling with?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au