The Tigers' recruiting philosophy has also been questioned. They have a league-high 13 players who began at another AFL club, with Carlton and St Kilda having 12.
The rebuilding Tigers went down this path because of the compromised national drafts when, having finished near the foot of the ladder between 2009 and 2012, they were largely denied access to the best young talent because of the concessions given to expansion sides Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.
While the likes of Bachar Houli, Shaun Grigg, Maric and Troy Chaplin have helped the Tigers rise into the middle rungs, the question is whether these players are talented enough to help push for a top-four spot.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-not-waving-the-white-flag-says-gale-20140428-zr0w7.htmlRICHMOND’s chief executive Brendon Gale has strongly defended his club’s recruiting, with the Tigers’ finals hopes in peril after a disappointing start to this season.
During the Tigers’ run to last September, there was praise for its ability to poach fringe players from other sides and turn them into consistent performers, a process likened to the “moneyball” concept made famous by American baseball’s Oakland A’s.
Shaun Grigg, who was among Richmond’s better players against the Hawks and has gathered 57 touches in his past two matches, Troy Chaplin and Bachar Houli have been permanent fixtures since joining the Tigers.
Shaun Hampson, Matt Thomas and Ricky Petterd have all played five of six games this year.
Ivan Maric is considered to be among the Tigers best six players and will resume from injury after the bye.
But forwards Aaron Edwards and Chris Knights are among those to have a negligible impact since coming to Richmond.
Gale said the club was forced down the “re-trod” route due to the draft concessions given to the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney and expressed confidence the Tigers had done well out of their dealings in the trade period.
“To be honest, we don’t really care. We know the strategy. We know the rationale behind it and we will not deviate,” Gale said.
“Some of the players we have identified, they were trades and in hindsight, they were very good trades.
“Let’s not beat around the bush. We are trying rebuild a list in the most competitive era of the code’s history.
“We haven’t been about to benefit from the draft, as the draft was intended, with two new teams.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-in-defence-of-recruiting-strategy/story-fnca0u4y-1226898819953#
