How Richmond turned the tide as Tigers prepare for a second Grand Final in three years
One good year at the draft and trade table can make all the difference, and there will be one year looked back on very fondly on that front if Richmond can claim a second premiership in three years this weekend.
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The foundations for Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership were laid in 2004.
The Hawks nailed the national draft that year — picking up Jarryd Roughead (pick 2), Lance Franklin (pick 5) and Jordan Lewis (pick 7) who would become premiership players four years later.
In 2012, the Western Bulldogs drafted Jake Stringer, Jack Macrae, Lachie Hunter and Fletcher Roberts, while upgrading Jason Johannisen from the rookie list.
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Four years later, in 2016, the five players celebrated a premiership with the Bulldogs.
One good year of good list management and drafting can make all the difference.
And for Richmond, 2015 is increasingly being looked back on as that turning point year.
The 2015 rookie draft was actually held in November 2014, with the 2015 national draft staged in November 2015.
However, between those two ‘2015’ drafts, in the space of 12 months, the Tigers snapped up no less than six players who are set to feature in their Grand Final against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.
In the 2015 rookie draft, Richmond selected defender Jayden Short (pick 11), forward Jason Castagna (pick 29), midfielder Kane Lambert (pick 46) and ruckman Ivan Soldo (pick 68).
In the national draft, forward Daniel Rioli joined the club at pick 15 and defender Nathan Broad at a lowly pick 67.
Talk about finding some diamonds in the rough.
Castagna, Lambert, Rioli and Broad all played in the club’s drought-breaking 2017 premiership — for which Short was an emergency.
Soldo — the fourth-last player picked in his rookie draft — watched that Grand Final from the MCG stands, after playing seven AFL games on debut that season.
But the cousin of former Richmond ruckman turned ruck coach Ivan Maric, Soldo has proven a late-bloomer of his draft class.
After going on to manage only one senior game in 2018, the 23-year-old has played 13 matches this season and found form in the back end of the season.
Soldo logged 10 disposals, 23 hit-outs and five tackles against Geelong’s Rhys Stanley in the preliminary final to ensure he held his position in the team for a big dance debut — just over five years after playing his first ever football game for under-18 side Northern Knights in Morwell in July 2014.
“Soldo’s really, really grown as a player,” Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said after the preliminary final.
“He’s playing in a Grand Final. I shake my head, but he’s been an incredible player for us, that kid.”
Between them, Castagna, Broad, Rioli and Lambert have played 87 of a possible 96 games this season.
Castagna has kicked the third -most goals of any Richmond player this year with 27
Broad has taken the fifth-most intercept marks at the club with 24.
Rioli has logged the sixth-most score assists of any Tigers player with 10 and ranks sixth at the club for pressure acts.
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Lambert has averaged the fifth-most disposals at the club this season with 21.8 a game.
Short has played just 14 games this year — due to being sidelined for 10 weeks with an elbow injury — but did not miss a match in 2018 and is a damaging rebounding defender by foot.
A second premiership in three years is firmly in the frame this weekend.
And if the club gets its hands on some more silverware, the decisions it made at the 2015 drafts will be largely to thank.
Originally published as How Richmond turned the tide as Tigers prepare for a second Grand Final in three years