TALKS ON TIGERS TO RAMP UPTrade talks for Richmond's wantaway trio Shai Bolton, Daniel Rioli and Liam Baker are set to ramp up following the Tigers' best and fairest, with all three finishing in the top-five of the count.
Rioli claimed his first Jack Dyer Medal on Wednesday night as Gold Coast look to strike a deal for the triple-premiership half-back, with all three players speaking to the crowd at Crown Palladium for the event.
The Suns' pick No.6 will be put forward for Rioli, with the Tigers at this stage expected to look for more in return for the 27-year-old, who is contracted with Richmond for another three seasons. He has a five-year offer from the Suns.
Gold Coast also holds picks 12, 20, 26, 38, 46 and 74 this year, as well as its full 2025 hand of picks, with a number of clubs chasing the Suns' No.12 pick. Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs and Sydney are among the clubs who have interest in the pick, which is up for grabs due to incoming Academy prospect Leo Lombard.
Fremantle's long-held interest in Bolton means the Dockers are still the expected club for the Tigers star, with the Dockers having a five-year offer for him. Andrew McQualter's appointment as West Coast's new senior coach hasn't shifted the view Fremantle is best placed to get a deal done, with the Tigers aware of Bolton's interest in being a Docker.
The Dockers have been prepared to offer two of their first-round picks for Bolton – picks No.9 and 16 – although Richmond is expected to target Freo's No.9 and 10 picks for the 25-year-old.
Baker's move to West Coast is further down the line given his out-of-contract status. Fremantle had been prepared to trade pick 10 for Baker if he chose them, but after a long decision he this week officially nominated the Eagles as his new club.
Hawthorn is prepared to offer pick 13 in this year's draft for wantaway Eagle Tom Barrass, with West Coast expected to target that selection as well as a future first-round pick in exchange for Barrass and a second-round pick. A version of pick purchasing – where the Eagles could pay some of Barrass' remaining salary to generate a better picks outcome – is also a possibility, however the Hawks are considered unlikely to want to part with back-to-back first-round selections.
That pick 13 would be involved in a deal for Baker, who is a year off being a free agent. Baker and Bolton finished equal fifth in Richmond's best and fairest on Wednesday night.
Richmond's unrestricted free agent Jack Graham toured West Coast's facilities on Wednesday in another step to him joining the Eagles. Graham has four-year offers from both clubs but, although yet to confirm his decision, is expected to join the Eagles following McQualter's appointment on Monday.
– Callum Twomey, Riley Beveridgehttps://www.afl.com.au/news/1236153/talks-on-richmond-tigers-trio-to-ramp-up-hawk-to-stay-essendon-bombers-eye-giant-conor-stone