Richmond's national recruiting manager Matty Clarke on the final episode for the year of podcast powerhouse Talking Tigers.
Clarke talks about the exciting challenge of finding some “diamonds in the rough” with the Club’s late picks in the upcoming national draft.
Go to 37 min mark: https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tigers-the-official-richmond-podcast/talking-tigers-episode-28-2022-----------------------------
* A really successful trade period. Obviously, Blair's team identified the areas of the ground where we needed improvement. Given where we have been finishing on the ladder as a successful club for quite a while it makes it hard to access such elite mids. To bring in 24-25 year olds (Hopper as a big body mid) means we are really happy with what we've brought in.
* Resignings?
Without getting ahead of ourselves, our 2021 draft crop look a really good talented group.
* There's always the chance we can trade away our early picks so you don't want to look too far ahead (assume what's going to happen). We in recruiting just need to do what we do and then deal with what we've handed. As far as our job goes, we just go out and find AFL players. We rank them accordingly and then go from there given whatever we're given.
* You always try to fill your list as best you can with types back there [picks 53 & 63]. You don't want to reach too far and pick a type just for the sake of it when you've got a player highly rated in a position you've already got. You don't pick a small or tall if you don't think he's much chance of getting there. There are always good players late in the draft. Our job is to find them. We believe we've done the work. There will be a couple of rookies there too. Our last pick 53 was Jack Graham. The two boys coming in the list will help 'fridge' as well given how he plays.
* We probably do lack that developing emerging young tall forward. They're hard to find and unlikely at picks 53/63 but you never know and there's reasons why boys fall through. There may not be a lot of picks this year with clubs' resignings and FAs. Just takes one domino and a player falls through.
* SA this year had a group of 195-198cm plus a couple 200cm tall forwards. They didn't come on as much as the SA boys would've hoped for various reasons. We've had a really good look as it's the first time in a couple of years that we've been able to get over there and watch them live. You can watch as many videos as you like but there's no substitute to watching them live. So, a couple of boys there in SA as well as in WA.
* Sonsie?
Credit to Tyler to grasp the professionalism of the game (training, diet, etc...). Formed a close repore with Jack Ross who is an excellent preparer. He's come on quicker than first thought. Footy IQ he's always had. So, to get up to speed in the other aspects of the game is pleasing and a bonus. Natural reader off hands and first receiver. Will work well with Hopper, Prestia and Bolton.
* It's why you need do list management. We feel we have the outside types to complement those now on the inside (mentioned Short playing as an outside running mid this year). We've also got young blokes too like Brown and Banks who also can fill those running outside roles.
* We've been able to back ourselves in with our culture and coaching to say it doesn't matter which state a kid comes from. As long as they are the right kid (i.e. loyal) is what you've got to figure out; not which state they come from.
* Cumberland?
Pleased for Noah. He always got himself fit. He's just been hampered by injury (ACL).
* This year's draft pool?
Strong at top end: picks top 4-6. Even from then on. One club may select a kid at pick 13 that another would take at pick 30.
* 2023 draft?
Some quality talls. Northern academies - strong academy players especially Gold Coast - which will be taken out which is bonus for them. Some players really emerging for next year. So, it's looking a strong draft. We have all our 2nd round and higher picks and will have the ability to trade our 2024 first into the first next year.
* We have a points ranking system we developed some years ago with some wording around where they fit (eg: first 18, star of the AFL, a player that can be adept to your unit). Put them in a points ranking based on the wording and then match them with players on your list and the AFL. When we go to a trade period a player may be worth X points we're going to have to give up this what do you think we're giving up in the draft. So you'll say that's a good deal or you may say hang on better to hold onto the pick as the guy being brought in may not be as good as the guy you get with that pick in the draft.
* Rookies?
Have 2-3 spots. Traditionally, we've left a spot open to get guys into train over the preseason (SSP) as it's served us well in the past (eg: Stack and Mansell). There's also some of our guys we could look at bringing back potentially but some of those will get opportunities at other clubs. We do like that option of the SSP and getting a group of players in to train with us as the coaches get a good look at them over the preseason.
