Richmond’s general manager of football talent Blair Hartley on the final episode for the year of podcast powerhouse Talking Tigers.
Hartley provides an absorbing insight into Richmond’s recruitment of star midfield duo Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper via the AFL’s recent trade period.
Starts 19 min mark and goes to 36 min mark: https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tigers-the-official-richmond-podcast/talking-tigers-episode-28-2022------------------------------------------------
* Banks, Brown & Clarke all showing good signs and pleased to lock them away as they are all important to our future.
* Taranto trade done a long time earlier. Discussions about trades start well before the trade period starts. Met Jason McCartney a month earlier. So when Taranto was done early that was planned a long way out.
* Didn't speak to Adam Kingsley at all. Only dealt with McCartney.
* Hopper and Taranto complement each other. When we got Tim around the line he mentioned Jacob. That's where getting both grew legs Hopper so attacking around the ball and contested footy; Taranto great at transition and hard running both forward and back. Both ripping people too.
* Taranto falls in the category of that player you always ask the question about. He was happy in Sydney but in the last couple of years got a sideways look when he fell out of the Giants' centre square midfield.
* Hitting the draft in 2021 and guys finishing up this year (Lambert, Edwards & Caddy) gave up the cap flexibility.
* When offering up high picks and $$$, they need to high quality individuals coming in (eg: Lynch, Prestia). Taranto and Hopper fit that.
* GWS were keen on moving up the draft order. Pick 19 is valuable as it's the first pick on the second night. Reluctantly, gave it up but we got a quality player coming in. Hopper being contracted took a little longer.
* Big crowds and good facilities do matter. You want to provide the environment players want to stay and come to. Not all clubs have what we have.
* GWS were exploring both avenues of wanting picks or players. They were realigning their salary cap. It gave us the opportunity to look doing the deal without giving up a player. Happy Soldo is staying. He was in his rights to have a look. Nothing gets hidden as Jack Graham found out. Joked with Graham that he knew he was off visiting his family but didn't know they all worked at Port Adelaide lol. We can take ourselves seriously but had a good chat with Jack and he's comfortable with it all.
* Soldo received a hefty offer last year from the Dogs but we convinced him to stay. It's difficult as he was coming off an ACL. Excited what he bring next year. Still has a lot more to learn as rucks don't reach their prime until mid-late 20s and he's only just reached 26 now.
* We always like good picks but we work so well as a team with Matt Clarke and the recruiters and talk about the pros and cons of everything we do. Last year hitting the draft made it easier this year. Building a list isn't just about the draft or the trade period or free agency; it's a combination of all.
* We've been fortunate to go to the draft while we've been contending. The salary cap and draft system can force you to overspend, top up and ignore the draft and that's when you fall off the cliff. We've been trying to buck that trend as best we can. We had the most debutants this year and had Maurice, Cumberland come through. We ignore the outside criticism [ed. hi Kane Cornes! lol] and just keep doing what we know.
* We lost games by one-two goals this year because we lost control of the centre bounce. Taranto and Hopper will help us in that area in 2023.
* Type of player we'll next target?
Our TPP is a little bit tighter than we thought it would be but we have all our 2nd, 3rd and 4th picks next year. We have a need in the front half as far as talls. Losing both Chol and Coleman-Jones a little bit earlier than we thought we would has opened up and area there. But they are hard to find. So that's one area.
* Bolton's contract?
Spent time in Perth with his manager. Manages Marlion as well so he has good history with Richmond. Bolton is exciting. Feels he has so much more to come. Training really hard in Perth. He's in a good space and we're excited what he's going to do.
* Pickett?
Improved every year he's been with us. He had no exposure to elite development pathways. He's now developed professional habits and is training his bum off.
* Background and work on the draft is next. Hit the draft and then put his feet up over summer.
