Five off-season targets for EVERY AFL club: RichmondWho could the Tigers add to their next wave of young talent?
Jack Jovanovski
zerohanger.con
August 30, 2022 - 4:09PMRichmond, off the back of an impressive bounce-back 2022 season, is preparing to embark on a fifth finals campaign in six seasons; symbolic of the club's list management successes over the course of the past decade.
Acquiring the likes of Dion Prestia, Toby Nankervis, Josh Caddy and Tom Lynch in recent off-seasons has helped spur the Tigers to premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020, and they will hope future acquisitions can help aid further flag runs in the years to come.
Richmond signed lockdown defender Robbie Tarrant this past off-season and he has proven very valuable to the Tigers' cause this season, whether he's been among Richmond's best 22 or merely acting as quality defensive depth.
The Tigers are likely to be players during the upcoming trade and free agency period, as there will be holes to fill left by the likes of retiring stalwarts Shane Edwards along with the aforementioned Caddy, and veteran superstars Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt edging increasingly closer to the end of their playing days.
All of that being said, we've compiled a list, in no particular order, of five targets that Richmond could target this off-season to help bolster its 2023 playing list.
1. Tim Taranto (GWS Giants)The Tigers' reported pursuit of GWS' Taranto has gained steam in recent days, with league insider Tom Browne reporting Collingwood has cooled its interest in the Giants midfielder, perhaps as a result of Taranto beginning to lean towards joining Richmond.
An acquisition of Taranto would indubitably boost the Tigers' midfield stocks, adding another big-bodied presence alongside contested-ball merchant, Dion Prestia.
Taranto has also demonstrated his ability to go forward and kick majors throughout his six years in the AFL, posting a career average of 0.4 goals per game despite predominantly damaging the opposition through the middle of the ground.
As the 24-year-old Sandringham Dragons product is a non-free-agent, Richmond officials will seek to strike a trade agreement with the GWS hierarchy, with a first-round draft selection likely to be the minimum compensation for a player of Taranto's quality.
2. Rory Lobb (Fremantle)Riewoldt's retirement, as previously mentioned, is imminent. Whether its imminence is the conclusion of this year's finals series or the end of next season, Riewoldt's days are numbered.
The Tigers boast another spearhead forward by the name of Tom J. Lynch, but it could be argued he can't do it all on his own, which would spark a need for another key forward.
In 2022, Lobb has showcased his impressive high-marking tendencies, as well as a knack for snagging goals from improbable angles. In short, he's had a career-best year and, rightly, will be high in demand come the free agency and trade period.
Lobb has been rumoured to be heading to The Kennel to play for the Bulldogs next season, but a late Richmond charge cannot be ruled out.
Either way, Lobb is not out of contract until next season, meaning an exchange would need to be agreed upon by both sides, with the Tigers possessing the necessary draft capital.
3. Darcy MacPherson (Gold Coast Suns)It's no secret the Tigers adore small forwards. Their premiership teams of 2017-20 were built off the back of forward pressure applied by the likes of Daniel Rioli, Jason Castagna and Dan Butler.
Now, the next wave of Richmond small forwards has arrived in the form of promising father-son prospect Maurice Rioli Jr. and academy selection Noah Cumberland.
Gold Coast's MacPherson, currently out of contract but a non-free-agent, fits the Richmond pressure-small-forward mould.
The Suns, who have bigger fish to fry in terms of player retention, are unlikely to drive a hard bargain for the 24-year-old Northern Knights product, who has been a fringe best-22 player throughout the majority of his time on the Sunshine Coast.
If nothing more, MacPherson would provide Damien Hardwick with adequate depth in the forward half, especially as the likes of Rioli Jr. and Cumberland continue on their roads of development.
As seen with Liam Baker, the Tigers could get the most out of the hard-nosed MacPherson across multiple positions.
4. Tom Green (GWS Giants)It would appear unlikely, if reports are correct, but if Collingwood was to land Taranto, the Tigers might look to pursue a similar Giants midfielder by the name of Tom Green.
The 21-year-old Green has Tigerland pedigree, with his grandfather, Michael, a four-time premiership hero and member of the club's Team of the Century.
However, unlike Taranto, Green is under contract at the Giants for the 2023 season, meaning the likelihood of Richmond being able to strike a trade this off-season is low, unless Green desperately wants out.
GWS' coaching situation - now settled, having just hired Richmond midfield assistant Adam Kingsley to take the reins - may sway Green to stay in New South Wales a while longer.
5. Jackson Nelson (West Coast Eagles)Nelson, having served eight years in the league, is currently an unrestricted free agent, meaning he could depart the West Coast Eagles this year without any resistance.
Nelson played his junior football in Victoria, so a move home shouldn't be an unexpected development.
Throughout his time playing for the Eagles, Nelson has provided hardness at the contest and a ferocious attack on the ball, qualities every AFL coach adores.
As seasoned Tigers Marlion Pickett and Kamdyn McIntosh enter the twilight years of their careers, there may soon be openings at the wing position for somebody such as Nelson, who may not want to spend his prime years at the rebuilding Eagles.
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