- Jun 30, 2011
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I think a few of us have talked to variants of this theme. Richmond can't set a fully extortionate price for Bolton if they actually want the picks. Its not like Carlton and Gibbs for instance. Carlton had already finished bottom 4 four seasons in a row to 2017. They could take or leave it. Richmond don't have that luxury, they are really compelled to taking the majority of their picks in the next 2 years. The pressure is particularly on for this year with the near universal predictions of a deep draft.Because he is older (even if only a few years), because he's actually from WA so can play the family card and because they want picks.
The 3 years difference means Pickett is young enough to be around when contending again (if they were resetting, which they aren't anyway, making even more impossible).
The idea they're going to be getting a bazillion first round picks from trading Bolton and a couple of other middling players seems like a fantasy aimed at generating clicks for Richmond fans, given the national footy media is in fact just the Melb media, rather than an actual thing. They're not in a particularly strong negotiation position imo.