Blair Hartley explains the importance of our trade for pick No.5 in this year's draft, and the challenges facing next year's draft
Watch here: https://x.com/Richmond_FC/status/2110297097471938685------------------------
On the trade with Port Adelaide to secure pick No.5 in this year's draft (via AFL Trade Radio)..."These deals don't happen overnight. I've been speaking to Jason [Cripps, Power list manager] a lot this year throughout, obviously, what was happening with Zak [Butters], and then, we are always looking for opportunities to maximise.
Sitting in the futures game on Grand Final Day, and we looked down and 23 of the 46 that are on the field we don't have access to due to a variety of reasons, father-son, academy, NGA, Tasmania access, and then throw on top of that, seven of the 13 for the first round of the draft next year are out with Tasmania already.
That's 30 out of 46 we are looking like we can't get access to.
Whereas, on the other hand, for Port Adelaide, those picks really do have some value with some father-son and academy access they have for them next year.
I think it works out well for both parties.
Rhy Gieschen, our recruiting team, Oliver Grant, having Nick Austin back on board, they've been hard at work the last few weeks and been putting all sorts of pressure on us to end up with those couple of picks inside five."
Hartley believes the Tigers have made "pretty positive off-field changes with Selwyn Griffith [High Performance Manager] coming on board and Brett Ratten [Head of Coaching and Strategy]".
He added getting the list healthy and on the field playing together will be "exciting for our fans".
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2151811/why-tigers-traded-for-pick-five-what-happened-with-short-deal