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If Richmond remain on the bottom of the ladder, they could hold the No.1 selection in the national draft for the first time since 2004 when they selected Brett Deledio.![]()
The silver lining to a possible 20-year low for the yellow and black army
Richmond premiership player Liam Baker will consider his options closer to the end of the season, with offers from three clubs in front of him. But the Tigers have enough collateral to reset their list under Adem Yze.www.theage.com.au
Anyone get this article up?
If Richmond remain on the bottom of the ladder, they could hold the No.1 selection in the national draft for the first time since 2004 when they selected Brett Deledio.
A percentage gap of just 1.1 keeps them below North Melbourne after 17 games, with both clubs having won two games so far in 2024, meaning their round 21 clash looms as the decider.
Not that winning that prized pick is as important this season, with no Harley Reid in a draft pool that is dominated by an even spread of talented Victorian midfielders.
A knee reconstruction set back Josh Gibcus’ development, but he has shown his class as a defender. CREDIT:AFL PHOTOS
The Tigers are going to get a quality player with an early selection regardless of where they finish, but they have also set themselves up for a fresh era under Adem Yze after having one last dip under Damien Hardwick before the premiership coach jumped ship midway through last year.
Newly appointed recruiting manager Chris Toce, who graduated from St Kilda, has joined the highly regarded Blair Hartley with five picks inside pick 41, which, right now, are picks 1, 21, 34, 39 and 41.
Depending on the draft rules, they could also use later picks 52, 57, 63 and 66 to either find a nugget late, or package them up to push higher up the draft, as was their plan when they traded during last year’s national draft under the assumption the rules would not change for at least a year.
They also have some natural movement potentially occurring, which will bolster their access to some ‘new toys’ for Hardwick’s replacement to develop.
Liam Baker has offers from Richmond, West Coast and Fremantle to consider at season’s end, with the Tigers aware that, although he loves Punt Road, the pull of home is strong. If Baker, who continues to play well, leaves, a pick in the teens (somewhere around a baker’s dozen) would be a possible return. The Dockers have the draft collateral to satisfy such a need, and knowledge the Eagles have a higher pick in the pre-season draft will help encourage Fremantle to be realistic.
West Coast don’t have picks in the mid-teens, but the Tigers’ former recruiter Matt Clarke would probably have to find a way to make that happen if Baker wanted to become an Eagle.
Turning a rookie selection 18 at the end of a premiership year into a dual-premiership player worth a pick in the teens (if he left seven years later) is good business.
Dustin Martin by the numbers
A modern-day great and one of the icons of the Richmond Football Club, Dustin Martin is just the seventh player to reach 300 games for the famous yellow and black, following in the footsteps of Jack Dyer, Kevin Bartlett, Francis Bourke, Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards, and Trent Cotchin.
Height:Round 1, 2010 (versus Carlton at the MCG)
Norm Smith Medals:
Unsigned veteran Dion Prestia showed on Sunday how important he is to the team as it regenerates and is a strong chance to continue, while skipper Toby Nankervis re-signed this year too. Nothing would surprise with Dustin Martin, but a move to the Gold Coast is possible – albeit with compensation likely to be minimal – while Jack Graham is yet to extend. If either of them leave, another pick, potentially in the second round, is possible, with any compensation for Martin to be based on his new contract, not his past achievements.
If Liam Baker decides to return to Western Australia, the Tigers could land a pick in the teens, giving them a strong hand in a strong draft.CREDIT:GETTY IMAGES
The Suns are keeping an eye on Daniel Rioli, but finding a way to secure a valuable contracted player is easier said than done, while Yze bolted the door on Bolton leaving at a recent media conference. There are only so many players you can afford to lose, and there are only so many a club can gain at one time.
Samson Ryan recently re-signed while the improving Hugo Ralphsmith will stay too. The unsigned Thomson Dow’s future is unclear as the emerging midfielder battles for opportunity.
Although the Tigers overpaid for Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, they are both handy acquisitions at their age – 28 and 27 respectively at the start of next season – as they bring steel to a team that has carried their injury list like a barnacle on a ship’s hull in Yze’s first season as coach.
Re-emerging from the bottom is not easy, with Carlton the most recent wooden spooner to make the finals after finishing bottom in 2018. With an early pick, a new CEO to replace Brendon Gale (the most important decision the club will make in the next 12 months), and talented players in the middle of their careers, Richmond return to where they were 20 years ago with a few success stories to draw upon when the army’s faith is tested.
while holding pick 1 or 2 too.Trading Rioli and Baker plus change and getting picks 8, 9 & 10 and a future second would be transformative.
Stupid question, but do we seek out the kids we want to see play in our VFL, or is AFL instructed / zoned?Yeah the Talking Tigers boys mentioned yesterday that he'll play 3 games which I think is the max?
Allegedly.Bakers gone isn’t he?
Think it's zoned.Stupid question, but do we seek out the kids we want to see play in our VFL, or is AFL instructed / zoned?
Far too much smoke and not enough ink tells me hes already decided to go.Bakers gone isn’t he?
certainly playing like he is!Bakers gone isn’t he?
worried no one leaves now and no one wants to trade in our late picks. get one good player, a bunch of speculative picks. would totally derail us.
The last 2 weeks he's played mostly as a forward. Prior to that he was playing a lot in the middle. It could either be that with the other mids back that they can't give him minutes in there or he's told the club he's leavingFar too much smoke and not enough ink tells me hes already decided to go.
Well that and his form drop off, reckon he's struggling with the pressure.
Hearing anything on Rioli or just a hunch?Think Baker and Rioli go. Pretty sure Graham as well.
Think Bolton stays.
hoping we still get a 2nd rounder for graham. could be handy if some players slide in the draftThink Baker and Rioli go. Pretty sure Graham as well.
Think Bolton stays.
I'm not saying to do it for the whole contract.Paying half a mill for a player to play elsewhere, no thanks. What happens when a gun player becomes available and we cant throw our hat in the ring because we are funding another teams flags, vomit.
AFL instructed. Pretty sure Jagga has been a player that was nominated to train with us in the preseason and I’m sure we don’t get to select who we want to train with usStupid question, but do we seek out the kids we want to see play in our VFL, or is AFL instructed / zoned?
ooze pretty much said as much the other weekFar too much smoke and not enough ink tells me hes already decided to go.
Well that and his form drop off, reckon he's struggling with the pressure.