Richmond continue planning for huge national draft following the tragic loss of Chris ToceJon Ralph
HeraldSun
October 26, 2024Richmond will fall back on the recruiting nous of list boss Blair Hartley and the man who recruited Dustin Martin 15 years ago as it plans for the national draft after the tragic loss of recruiting boss Chris Toce.
Toce was farewelled at a service this week after his passing through cancer on the final day of the trade period, with his death rocking Richmond and the tight-knit AFL recruiting community.
Richmond’s full rebuild comes with chief executive Brendon Gale having now left Punt Road, with Shane Dunn having stepped up as the new Tigers CEO.
Gale was adamant the Tigers could bounce quickly and the draft hand assembled by the brilliant Hartley has been described as a once-in-a-generation haul.
The Tigers have selections 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23 and 24 and could still trade up to North Melbourne’s No. 2 pick to have the first two selections in the national draft.
Toce had been battling with his cancer for some months and while his health deteriorated quickly the Tigers had put in place extensive planning to spread the load leading into the national draft.
Hartley was the list analyst at Port Adelaide before moving to Richmond in 2010, before being elevated to head of football performance in 2019.
His resume speaks for itself, with his series of hard-nosed trade moves in the past fortnight making the most of Richmond’s rebuild.
Former recruiting boss Francis Jackson, who recruited Dustin Martin in 2009, is in a part-time role but has increased his workload with the club in recent months given Toce’s situation.
The Richmond recruiting team also includes Rhy Gieschen as the Victorian recruiting manager, Oliver Grant, and WA-based Sam Cousens.
Toce had only this year come on board to replace recruiting boss Matt Clarke, but the club is confident it has full knowledge of the draft-available players and a plan to execute in the draft.
The sheer level of talent is one thing in the upcoming draft but the variety of talent is also something to behold, according to list bosses.
It means Richmond could secure elite mids like Sam Lalor, Harvey Langford or Finn O’Sullivan, key position talls like Alix Tauru, Harry Armstrong or Luke Trainor and running half backs and interceptors like Tobie Travaglia.
Richmond is aware its marquee-heavy fixture of the past is unlikely to be replicated given its 18th-placed finish in 2024.
But the club will still secure the opening round clash against Carlton, the Dreamtime at the ‘G game against Essendon and Anzac Eve clash against Melbourne.
Richmond is not expected to take part in the opening round clash given its diminished status as a must-watch side, but it will also mean the Tigers dodge a five-day break leading into Round 1 against Carlton.
Richmond fans will at least be able to watch an elite band of young kids come through together which will sustain them after three premierships from 2017-2020 then only one finals series since then.
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