Draft focus: RichmondHolding five of the first 28 selections at this year’s draft, the Tigers aren’t short on options.
By Benjamin Millard
zerohanger.com
November 16, 2021The Tigers are in a strange spot at the minute - still in their premiership window however faced with having to replace several of their stars.
With Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin not getting any younger it is imperative for the club to get in their successors now as opposed to when they announce they're hanging up the boots.
Luckily for Richmond, they easily wield the strongest hand at this year's draft, with their two first-round and three second-round picks hopefully able to set the club up for the foreseeable future.
However, it remains to be seen whether or not they recruit wisely and if their selections pay off, with 2021's proceedings set to be the most pivotal draft the Tigers have had this century.
Draft handPicks: 7, 15, 26, 27, 28, 83
Draft points: 4865
Richmond, as said before, have a stacked draft hand and could welcome as many five top-30 players through the doors at Punt Road for pre-season.
Things may have opened up for the club to trade even higher up the order as well, with the Hugh Greenwood saga potentially playing into the Tigers' hands.
The Suns only hold Pick 3 and with Richmond already trying to poach North Melbourne's Pick 1, there is no doubt over the club's intent to trade up.
Gold Coast now need another list spot filled after losing Greenwood and, with just one pick at the draft, the Sun might be open to hearing offers for their prized selection and split their top pick.
List needs There seems to be an aura of transition around Punt Road, with the club slowly starting to prepare for life without many of its premiership heroes.
A talismanic mid: This one seems to be the most urgent area to address with the injury to Dustin Martin and the dip in form of Trent Cotchin highlighting in 2021 that Richmond desperately require a midfielder.
With the silky Liam Baker making the transition out of defence this season, the Tigers may have one component of their next-generation midfield sorted, however it is yet to be seen whether the likes of Riley Collier-Dawkins and Hugo Ralphsmith are what the club need going forward.
A key tall: The injury to Ivan Soldo at the tail-end of season 2020 threw a spanner in the works, however it didn't come back to bite the Tigers until this year. With Toby Nankervis injured it was down to Mabior Chol and Callum Coleman-Jones to ruck for Damien Hardwick's side during portions of 2021.
Now that both of the aforementioned youngsters have moved to rival clubs it's now absolutely imperative that Damien Hardwick searches for another tall who fits a mould similar to Coleman-Jones and Chol.
Someone who could do the business end-to-end would be ideal for Richmond, with injuries to both Nankervis and Soldo again in 2022 almost certain to hurt the side even more than in 2021.
A spearhead: With Jack Riewoldt predicted to hang up the boots either in 2022 or the following year, coupled with Tom Lynch's patchy form, there needs to be something done to address the side's attacking prowess.
Riewoldt has booted 715 goals in his 14 years at Tigerland - a tough act to follow for any incoming key forward - however there are some tasty prospects who may be able to fill that role to an acceptable extent.
It will also depend on what Damien Hardwick has in mind for his side's forward configuration in the future seeing as their drought-breaking flag in 2017 came with just one 'tall', but it can't hurt the Tigers to have a second big man in their forward-50 to keep opposition defenders occupied.
Ideal recruits Finn Callaghan (midfielder): Compared to the likes of Marcus Bontempelli and Josh Kelly, this Sandringham Dragons prospect is tipped to go top five in this year's proceedings with some ease.
The big-bodied mid is likely to go to the Giants, with the club holding the first pick outside the big three of Horne-Francis, Daicos and Darcy, however there is a chance that the Tigers package up a few of their big picks and make a play for Gold Coast's Pick 3.
Should the Giants somehow pass up Callaghan, then it would be ludicrous for Richmond not to snap the St Bedes boy up. His athleticism and disposal efficiency is something that would be greatly welcomed at Tigerland as they look to build a new-look midfield.
Mac Andrew (ruckman): A name that has been floated around aplenty is Melbourne NGA graduate Mac Andrew, who is set to go top ten after a stunning rise over the past year to shape as the next-best tall in the draft after Sam Darcy.
The South-Sudanese big man is extremely athletic and dominant in the air, showing on several occasions that he has the potential to play at either end of the ground.
With NGA graduates unable to be matched by their parent club in the top-20, the Tigers may be able to poach him should they elect to stick with what they have. It may come at the cost of a midfield prospect such as Ben Hobbs or Josh Ward, however Richmond would get an incredible athlete who could be moulded into a required role.
Jack Williams (forward): A big forward from East Fremantle, Jack Williams is a player who has what it takes to crack the top-30 at this year's draft.
Playing in the WAFL U18s this season, Williams managed 40 goals in 15 games and impressed many with his threat inside-50 as well as his ability to distribute the ball to teammates when needed.
At 195cm and 84kg, Williams is a prospect that might be worth chasing up if you're Richmond. With the club holding three picks in the late-20s, don't be surprised if this key forward ends up at Tigerland in 2021.
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