How do we all rate our 2025 recruiting effort?

[Hard Roar Tiger]

I understand that it was only pick 99 that we weren't going to use. THough that picked would have ended up closer to late 60s early 70s wouldn't it?

But ...

The reason I don't get it is

He was a rookie at Geelong who was getting de-listed. And from what I understand was no where near getting an AFL game down there (will stand corrected if I've read all that wrong)

I appreciate he fills a need I'm just not sold yet on using a primary list spot on him when we could have picked him up in the rookie draft for nothing

I wish the kid nothing but the best,  he's a Tiger now

The more perplexing thing is why the Cats dumped after one season. Finished 5th in their ressies b&f and their dna with kids is very much about patience so this one was highly unusual

[Hart4Jack]

I understand that it was only pick 99 that we weren't going to use. THough that picked would have ended up closer to late 60s early 70s wouldn't it?

But ...

The reason I don't get it is

He was a rookie at Geelong who was getting de-listed. And from what I understand was no where near getting an AFL game down there (will stand corrected if I've read all that wrong)




I appreciate he fills a need I'm just not sold yet on using a primary list spot on him when we could have picked him up in the rookie draft for nothing

I wish the kid nothing but the best,  he's a Tiger now

The more perplexing thing is why the Cats dumped after one season. Finished 5th in their ressies b&f and their dna with kids is very much about patience so this one was highly unusual

Hopefully their loss is our gain. At the cost of pick 99 it may be a master-stroke, time will tell. I must say I'm quite ok with it.

[Andyy]

I understand that it was only pick 99 that we weren't going to use. THough that picked would have ended up closer to late 60s early 70s wouldn't it?

But ...

The reason I don't get it is

He was a rookie at Geelong who was getting de-listed. And from what I understand was no where near getting an AFL game down there (will stand corrected if I've read all that wrong)

I appreciate he fills a need I'm just not sold yet on using a primary list spot on him when we could have picked him up in the rookie draft for nothing

I wish the kid nothing but the best,  he's a Tiger now

I think the idea was that he was going to be delisted, he was told so, he said he wanted to play for us and we wanted him, so trading just meant he wouldn't go to the rookie draft and thus no chance of WC etc picking him up. Long shot but yeah.

Otherwise....agree on most points pretty much.

[camboon]

Seems to have a good attitude , good runner with some speed who finds the ball . There must be a knock on him as Geelong don’t discard players who have any chance of making it. I just hope  we can coach that knock out of him.
Anyway we need a reserve scapegoat ,we’ve got Shorty but if he goes down who will will they turn on now Macca’s gone .

[Hart4Jack]

I understand that it was only pick 99 that we weren't going to use. THough that picked would have ended up closer to late 60s early 70s wouldn't it?

But ...

The reason I don't get it is

He was a rookie at Geelong who was getting de-listed. And from what I understand was no where near getting an AFL game down there (will stand corrected if I've read all that wrong)

I appreciate he fills a need I'm just not sold yet on using a primary list spot on him when we could have picked him up in the rookie draft for nothing

I wish the kid nothing but the best,  he's a Tiger now

I think the idea was that he was going to be delisted, he was told so, he said he wanted to play for us and we wanted him, so trading just meant he wouldn't go to the rookie draft and thus no chance of WC etc picking him up. Long shot but yeah.

Otherwise....agree on most points pretty much.

Whatever the knock on him is I'm sure we'll know about it & have plans in place to address it/them.

[Gigantor]

I think I did see some had him in their
 First game team which I thought was just extraordinary

[MintOnLamb]

Thank SBJ that we didn’t pick Robey, looks to have back issues poor bugger

[one-eyed]

2025 AFL Draft Review: Richmond

Peter Williams
Rookie Me Central
November 30, 2025

ANOTHER couple of top 10 picks ensured Richmond was able to add more top-end talent to its young and developing list at this year’s AFL Draft. The Tigers selected three out of four South Australians in the haul, with speed and competitiveness a key trait in the haul.

DRAFT HAUL
NATIONAL DRAFT:
Pick 7. Sam Cumming
Pick 8. Sam Grlj
Pick 31. Zane Peucker
Pick 54. Noah Roberts-Thomson

Cumming has an untapped ceiling and boast some fantastic power as a half-forward or rolling into the midfield. His natural competitiveness comes to the fore and will work up and down the ground with some nice speed, while also being able to compete in the air. He is one to plonk at half-forward and let him go to work.

Grlj boasts some elite speed, and like Cumming has serious potential. The theme of ‘competitiveness’ will pop up across the board, and while not a massive accumulator, the Oakleigh Chargers midfielder-defender does offer linebreaking run and power. He is the more defensive version of Cumming, though both offer variations within their profiles.

Peucker is much the same with his elite speed and power on display, working hard in the front half of the ground. He might be a little longer to make his debut as he builds up his tank for AFL level, but the talented South Australian has plenty of hurt factor when he is on-song. His ability to hit the scoreboard and bring others into the game is what drew clubs to him.

Finally, a third South Australian in Roberts-Thomson is thrown into the mix, and like the others, has some nice wheels on him. He moves well and has terrific footy IQ, while also being clean around the coalface. He too can play forward or through the middle, and knows where the goals are too, averaging more than a goal per game from 23 touches and five marks in the SANFL Under 18s and was a nice value late selection.

GRADE: B+

Richmond was never going to lose with the picks it had, and clearly the Tigers wanted speed, power and competitiveness amongst its ranks. The quartet all offer variations of that, so the coaching group will be excited to see what they can offer next year and beyond. The two top 10 draftees should see action next year, with the other two likely to be a little longer, but anything is possible in the rebuild at Punt Road.

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2025/11/30/2025-afl-draft-review-richmond/