Tigers have ‘no choice’ but to push for a flag NOW... even if it means ‘10 years’ of pain laterRonny Lerner
Fox Sports
October 7th, 2021 4:07 pmA pair of star Hawthorn midfielders could be just what Richmond need to win a fourth flag in six years next season, according to former St Kilda and North Melbourne star Nick Dal Santo.
After going back-to-back in 2020, and claiming their third premiership in four seasons, the Tigers became just the third reigning premiers in the past 20 years to miss out on the finals this year.
Injuries to numerous key players played their part in that, and Richmond still have a large core of premiership players on their list heading into next season.
Dal Santo reckons the acquisition of Tom Mitchell and/or Jaeger O’Meara could put them right back in contention for another premiership.
And with five picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft (7, 15, 26, 28 and 38), Dal Santo thinks Richmond are in a good position to trade in at least one of those players.
“They have no choice but to go (for a flag) again,” Dal Santo told Fox Footy’s Trading Day.
“You can go in there (Hawthorn), knock on (new coach) Sam Mitchell’s door and say, ‘Can we please have one of your really good players?’ I’m thinking Tom Mitchell, I’m thinking O’Meara as well.”
As good as Richmond have been in the past five years, their stoppage work hasn’t been great, and Dal Santo believes that’s where Mitchell and/or O’Meara could step in.
“They (Hawthorn) have got two guys there that are a proven product,” he said.
“They love putting their nose over the football and they love giving it to people on the outside.
“I would not be angry or disappointed if I was a Tigers supporter. I’d say, ‘I get it, we’re going for four premierships in six years, if that means we’re not going to be great or competitive for 10 years, I can cop that’.
“Use one of those picks ... to go one more time.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/richmond-tigers/afl-trade-news-2021-richmond-trade-plans-trading-for-tom-mitchell-or-jaeger-omeara-hawthorn-rebuild-using-draft-picks/news-story/a75f012c3b84aa2d32cd22a3d0e2ea8a