AFL trade period: Richmond set to finish with up to seven first-round picks after exodus of stars
Rivals are planning to test the resolve of more Richmond stars in trade talks after this year’s Punt Road exodus. Plus, how many draft picks will the Tigers end up with?
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Richmond has begun talks on deals which will deliver the club an historic package of early draft picks to help turbocharge the Tigers’ rebuild.
The Tigers are preparing to secure a suite of eight early choices which could see Adem Yze’s men hold selections 1, 6, 10, 14, 18, 20 and 24 by the trade deadline next Wednesday night.
Richmond also secured pick 42 as free agency compensation for Jack Graham’s exit but that could be swept up in a swap with Brisbane to nab the Lions’ pick 20.
The Herald Sun revealed on Tuesday the Tigers had received an end-of-second round compensation pick for Graham’s move to West Coast on a four-year deal as an unrestricted free agent.
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The Lions are eager to off-load pick 20 for a suite of later selections such as the Tigers’ cluster of second and third-round picks to help Brisbane bank points for father-son jet Levi Ashcroft and academy prospect Sam Marshall.
The Tigers will snare pick six (as a minimum) and 23 for Daniel Rioli (Gold Coast), pick 14 for Liam Baker (West Coast), and look set to land 10 and 18 for Shai Bolton (Fremantle).
The deals will put the Tigers in an extraordinary position to hand-pick its next wave of young stars in one hit although Richmond will look to trade at least one of the picks into next year.
List boss Blair Hartley has begun talks with the Suns, Dockers and Eagles on the deals which could trickle into next week as the finer details and lesser pick swaps are thrashed out.
The situation makes the Tigers’ premiership talent expert the busiest man in football over the next eight days as he looks to lay the foundation for the club’s next shot at a premiership.
But the Tigers’ dealings will also involve other clubs as well, as Melbourne is looking to trade a future pick with either Richmond or Fremantle to give the Demons another first-round choice.
The Demons already hold the number five selection after a dismal year on and off field.
Gold Coast is prepared to hand over pick six for best-and-fairest winner Rioli as part of an exchange which bears resemblance to Adelaide’s move on Izak Rankine for pick five two years ago.
The Suns could also look to involve pick 23 in a deal as the Suns prepare to send Jack Lukosius to Port Adelaide in exchange for the Power’s top selection next year.
The Dockers are well-placed to hand over 10 and 18 for Bolton who has shown tremendous upside but battled to produce his best form consistently in yellow and black.
Baker’s move to West Coast looks straightforward as the Eagles wait to receive pick 14 from Hawthorn for Tom Barrass and hand then on to Richmond for Baker.
The Eagles also want a secondary pick such as a future second-rounder to give up Barrass to Waverley where he is expected to help make the Hawks a top-four contender alongside departed Saints’ backman Josh Battle.
Barrass, who is regarded as one of the best defenders in the league, turned 29 on Tuesday.
While the Hawks are on the up, the departure of four of the Tigers’ best players will leave the club exposed on the field next year and the clear favourite for the wooden spoon.
It will put the onus on key recruits Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper to carry a huge load in the midfield after joining the club at the end of 2022 to be part of a premiership push.
The Tigers gave up picks 12 and 19 for Taranto and a future first-rounder and pick 31 for Hopper.
Clubs are expected to make longshot plays for the two midfielders next year who both lobbed at Punt Rd on lucrative seven-year deals.
The pair have said they are committed to the Richmond rebuild but that faith could be tested if the losses mount next year.
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