Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin weigh in on Richmond’s next move as stars weigh up futures

Richmond premiership hero Jack Riewoldt says the club must consider Tasmania’s impending entry to the AFL as it prepares for an off-season which will define the club’s next era.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 15: Shai Bolton of the Tigers celebrates kicking a goal during the round 14 AFL match between Richmond Tigers and Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 15, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Jack Riewoldt has urged Richmond to consider a wholesale clean out of his former premiership teammates in a bid to avoid years stuck at the bottom of the ladder due to Tasmania’s impending entry to the AFL.

The Devils will become the AFL’s 19th team in 2028 and are expected to be given a host of draft allowances to help make them competitive from the outset.

Their entry will leave clubs at the start of a rebuild cycle vulnerable.

The Tigers could take as many as six first-round picks to this year’s draft should stars such as Daniel Rioli, Liam Baker, Shai Bolton and Jack Graham leave Punt Rd.

“The draft will then be diluted again with another assistance package for a team coming in. But also then, everyone’s pick goes out by one,” Riewoldt said.

“Now there’s changes to the academies and father-sons that will happen but this year and next year if you can stockpile and load up on first-round draft picks which, the players we’re talking about (trading) are worth picks that are up the top end of the draft, (Richmond) needs to make the most of what they have got.”

Richmond could snare a draft bounty if stars including Shai Bolton leave. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Bolton is open to a move to a Western Australian club, while Baker has been strongly linked to West Coast as a free agent.

Rioli could reunite with former coach Damien Hardwick on the Gold Coast.

“The club would love to keep all of the players but if they’re expressing wants to go somewhere else, then facilitate it and get what they’re worth back and start again,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy.

It comes as former skipper Trent Cotchin expressed his sadness at the club’s rapid decline from premier to wooden spoon in four years.

Top draft fancy Jagga Smith played recently for Richmond’s VFL team. Picture: Paul Kane/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Cotchin said on Channel 7: “I kind of sit there and I go, ‘four, five, six years ago we had so many conversations about what’s that legacy we’re going to leave when our time is said and done?’

He said it would be “quite sad” for the ex-teammates he expected to lead the club’s next era to depart en masse this off-season.

“That’s where it becomes quite sad for what you had hoped would be the legacy of when you’re leaving a footy club (and) you know there’s some really brilliant people and a lot of talent there to actually carry (on) some of what you have created but then also put their own spin on it,” he said.

Cotchin said the Tigers needed to embrace the opportunity to “go hard” and “inject some new talent” at this year’s draft.

Originally published as Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin weigh in on Richmond’s next move as stars weigh up futures