Tigers ponder bold play amid mystery over possible slider and late trades: Late AFL Draft WhispersBen Waterworth
Fox Sports
November 20th, 2024 5:48 pmRival clubs are preparing for the prospect of a risky Richmond draft move with one of its first four picks on Wednesday night amid intrigue around a potential first-round slider.
The Tigers are the centrepiece of this year’s national draft, holding eight of the first 24 selections as the wooden-spooners look to set a strong foundation for their rebuild.
They’re widely expected to take powerful GWV Rebels midfielder-forward Sam Lalor with Pick 1 – Tigers legend Dustin Martin is being tipped to present Lalor with his first yellow and black jumper – while on-ballers Josh Smillie, Bo Allan and Xavier Lindsay are all in the mix for Picks 6 and 10.
Richmond, for weeks, has been expected to take at least one key-position player with one of its first four picks, with Harry Armstrong (Sandringham Dragons), Jobe Shanahan (Bendigo Pioneers) and Jack Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers) all linked to the Tigers.
But sources spoken to by foxfooty.com.au suggested clubs were also anticipating the possibility that Richmond overlooks a tall with one of its third or fourth picks and instead selects another midfield/hybrid type. The motivation behind such a move for the Tigers would be the hope that one of the gun key-position prospects would still be on the board come its fifth selection (Pick 18).
Players such as Sandringham Dragons duo Taj Hotton and Murphy Reid, as well as Murray Bushrangers forward Joe Berry, all have interest from clubs with picks after the Tigers – West Coast (Pick 12), Port Adelaide (Pick 13) and Fremantle (Pick 14) – so the Tigers could pounce on one of those players before their rivals.
Scouts also wouldn’t be surprised if the Tigers instead used Pick 11 to get in early on a prospect linked to back-end first-round picks, such as wing-forward Jesse Dattoli (Northern Knights), medium defender Harry Oliver (Sandringham Dragons) and powerful midfielder-forward Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays).
Should the Tigers opt for a tall with their fourth pick – and some rival clubs still believe they will – Shanahan and Whitlock are now seen as the front-runners ahead of Armstrong.
There’s a scenario being played out among recruiting teams that has Armstrong still available at Richmond’s fifth selection (Pick 18). That would see the Tigers (Pick 11), Eagles and Dockers hybrids before the Power and Giants take either Shanahan or Whitlock.
The Giants, who remain a trade watch, are only expected to take one tall from their first two selections (Picks 15 and 16) – and it’s unlikely to be Armstrong – should they hold their selections, while the Western Bulldogs (Pick 17) are highly unlikely to select a key-position player.
There is, however, a sense that Port Adelaide – which is being tipped to take a tall forward – would find it hard to overlook the 193cm Armstrong if he was to still be on the board, despite the club’s strong links to both Shanahan and Whitlock in recent weeks.
Nonetheless, the possibility that the Tigers could have the luxury of having one of Armstrong, Shanahan or Whitlock to select from at Pick 18 is growing, per sources. Jonty Faull and Matt Whitlock would be other options.
Richmond is also being tipped to part with at least one of its four selections between Picks 18 and 24 as several rival clubs eye a move back into the early stages of the draft. The club, in particular, is widely expected to listen to offers for Pick 24 – the valuable opening selection of the second round, which kicks off night two.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-draft-2024-late-mail-and-whispers-start-time-predictions-harry-armstrong-richmond-adelaide-prospects-sid-draper-and-harvey-langford/news-story/419feba94aa0cceabe9f4d3731ef55fd
