Best 23 in 2026?

[one-eyed]

No movement on the trade-front, but how far can these talented Tiger cubs go in season 2026?


https://x.com/traderadio/status/1977188773990371684

[Andyy]

Broad, Nank, Prestia and Lynch all to move on in the next 2 years you'd think.

Need to upgrade Ralph, Short/move on, maybe Banks too.

So yeah...another 6-8 players and we may be sorted.

[TigerLand]

Yeah we have this draft to look at cutting into 1/4 of that.

Reality is you can't build a lost with top end talent. You need a mix. We need to start also hitting wins in Rookie draft and will also hit free agency soon. I expect for probably a gun ruck as picking one up in draft is really 6 years away from a break out year and by then Lalor and CO will be FA available and we can't afford to wait that long to be back in top 8. As wed struggle to keep a hold of all that draft crop coming to FA at once. If we are playing finals it'll be easy to sign them.

So 8 players Andy, agree. 2 of them come this year in pick 2 and 3. Next year's first is probably a top 6 pick minimum.  So 3. Get 2-3 rookies to add and then 2 FA big names or trade ins on big contracts. We are cooking.

[the claw]

We have about three drafts to cut into around 20 players thats how many need to go or be improved upon.

Also have to factor in a percentage of misses with good picks.

[ajGreen]

No movement on the trade-front, but how far can these talented Tiger cubs go in season 2026?


https://x.com/traderadio/status/1977188773990371684

I would not have ralphsmith or short.

Ideally prestia wouldn't play every game

[Tiger Khosh]

Kmac2 should be in and also Sims 100% should be in. With 5 on the bench, 0 reason not to have a legit 2nd ruck every game.

Then I’d be looking at Alger, juddy Clarke, Fawcett, Gray, Smith and our 3 national draft picks this class to be given opportunities too.

[the claw]

Vlastuin - Miller - Gibcus/Trainor
Banks/Smith - Balta - Clarke/Brown  Definately looking to improve the running backs and i think 3 tall defenders will be it the way the game is.

Campbell - McAuliffe - Brown/Clarke.  we just have to find other options our wings have been ordinary for  too long and our mids too slow.

Algar - Faull - Hotton. Most definately the future and we must pump games into them
Mansell - Lynch - Armstrong/Sims. Not sure Nigel is a long term keeper but he is best 22 be nice if we can ease Lynchy out of team

Nankervis - Lalor - Prestia. Combined with the mids our best and it addresses genuine pace issues

Hopper - Taranto - Smillie - Trainor - ND#3 - Broad - ND#4 - Lefau. Lots of midfield rotations adding Hotton and Algar into rotations.

Hopefully we are looking past guys like Ross, Short, HRS - Rioli - Dow - Sonsie  If things are going well injury and improvement hope they are phasing out Prestia Broad and Lynch and all those who have had a fair crack at it like most of the above who have severe limitations..

[Simonator]

I really lost hope in ralphsmith this year. Complete defensive liability. Looks flashing running fwd kicking goals etc but offers nothing the other way and we already have 2 guys like that in banks and short

[one-eyed]

Every AFL club’s best 23 for 2026

Jack Jovanovski, Will Faulkner, Ben Cotton and Dylan Bolch
Fox Sports
October 18th, 2025

RICHMOND

B: N.Broad, B.Miller, N.Vlastuin

HB: S.Banks, J.Gibcus, J.Short

C: L.Trainor, D.Prestia, H.Ralphsmith

HF: S.Campbell, N.Balta, S.Lalor

F: R.Mansell, T.Lynch, J.Faull

FOLL: T.Nankervis (c), T.Taranto, J.Hopper

I/C: J.Ross, T.Hotton, T.Brown, S.Green, H.Armstrong

EMG: T.Sims, J.Smillie, T.Dow


Key ins: Nil

Key outs: Tylar Young, Kamdyn McIntosh

WE SAY: Richmond will be banking on a healthy Josh Gibcus, with the club still holding out hope the former first-round pick can be a long-term key defensive answer. Sam Lalor slots back onto half-forward after another hamstring ended his debut season, while the Tigers will plan for a Josh Smillie second-year leap after a redshirt rookie year. Noah Balta could start the year forward again in a combination with Tom Lynch and emerging tall Jonty Faull, with fellow second-year keys Tom Sims and Harry Armstrong chomping at the bit for senior spots. Versatile youngster Luke Trainor could fill the wing void left by Kamdyn McIntosh, while a healthy Hugo Ralphsmith returns to the opposite wing. Jack Ross keeps Thomson Dow out of the side. Also hold picks 3 and 4.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-trades-2025-every-clubs-best-23-for-2026-after-the-trade-period-and-free-agency-lineups-teams-recruits-opinion-analysis-latest-news/news-story/4543c1c7c07ce59b6d2503859f9b18b6

[one-eyed]

Every club’s best 23 for 2026 after the AFL Trade Period

Matthew Forrest, Josh Barnes, Callum idiot, Lachlan McKirdy, Simeon Thomas-Wilson and Eliza Reilly
HeraldSun
October 18, 2025

RICHMOND​

B: N.Vlastuin, B.Miller, N.Broad

HB: J.Short, N.Balta, T.Brown

C: J.Trezise, D.Prestia, S.Banks

HF: J.Ross, J.Faull, S.Lalor

F: S.Green, T.Lynch, T.Hotton

FOLL: T.Nankervis, T.Taranto, J.Hopper

I/C: L.Trainor, J.Smillie, J.Clarke, S.Campbell, H.Armstrong


Depth: R.Mansell, M.Rioli, T.Sonsie, T.Dow, T.Sims, J.Gibcus


Ins: Patrick Retschko (Geelong)

Outs: Tylar Young (West Coast), Jacob Bauer (delisted), Jacob Blight (delisted), Mate Colina (delisted), Jacob Koschitzke (delisted), Kamdyn McIntosh (delisted)

2025 draft picks: 3, 4, 38
The Tigers backed in their youth rather than targeting free agents this off-season, but landed Patrick Retschko from Geelong for a late pick. Top-10 draftee Josh Smillie is the only of last year’s monster draft haul to not debut last season, but a full summer would have him ready to go. The young core is here, and will be complemented in November with two elite talents with the No.3 and No.4 draft picks.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/every-clubs-best-23-for-2026-after-the-afl-trade-period/news-story/b7f7e0687baa0d0ba57f720152e5f809