Jon Ralph: 10 questions Richmond must answer for 2024 and beyond
Times are changing at Tigerland, long gone are the once dominant Tigers as they descend down the AFL hierarchy, so where do they go from here? JON RALPH answers the key questions they face.
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The Tigers are in a tailspin, with the optimism of Adem Yze’s arrival quickly spinning to some tough realisations.
Ahead of Dreamtime at the ‘G the Tigers face a host of key decisions as they assess their list heading into 2024 and beyond.
10 KEY QUESTIONS TIGERS ARE FACING
Do they consider trading Daniel Rioli given the Suns are desperate to secure him as a running half back and would offer up at least one first-round pick?
RALPH: Yes. If the Suns are prepared to part with the Dogs’ first-rounder and a second pick (perhaps a second-rounder or even the Roos’ end-of-first-rounder, which will likely be in the early 20s) they should consider it for 27-year-old Rioli, given they have so many half backs like Jayden Short, Nick Vlastuin, Tom Brown and Sam Banks).
Is Noah Cumberland part of their future after he finally returned to the senior side for the first time last week and kicked two goals against Brisbane?
RALPH: As Damien Hardwick said of Cumberland last year: “What Noah’s got to realise is how hard he has to work in the game of AFL footy”. Hardwick gave him plenty of tough love and the fact Yze only turned to him in round 9 shows he too has doubts. Cumberland has 12 weeks to save his football career.
Are veteran midfielders Kamdyn McIntosh and Marlion Pickett in their 2025 plans with both playing mostly AFL this season, but without 2025 contracts?
RALPH: Pickett has tagged players like Christian Petracca this year with some success, but at 1-9 the entire focus should be on blooding the kids. With only 27 players available there aren’t many left, but if there is ever a lineball decision at selection between Pickett and the kid, then play the kid. McIntosh is only 30 and has played 52 games since the start of 2022. Back him in on another one-year contract given how versatile he is as a wing-half back, especially if the Tigers release Rioli.
Does Yze have ruck-forward Samson Ryan as a first-choice player given he has played VFL since being subbed at halftime in Opening Round, despite the club’s tall stocks being decimated by injury?
RALPH: Clearly not, given how little he has used him. But the Tigers might need him at Dreamtime at the ‘G with Mykelti Lefau no certainty. Ryan’s VFL form is solid – 12 goals in seven games. At just 23, he has time to mature and the kitchen is not well-stocked with key position forwards so play him and see if he’s up to it in the back end of the year.
Can the Tigers play West Coast and Fremantle off against each other to secure a top-10 pick for Liam Baker or will they have to accept a pick in the teens?
RALPH: Richmond might have to accept they are unlikely to get a top-10 pick for Baker, despite his impact at the Tigers. They will ask for the world but a pick between 10-14 is about far price. If the Eagles keep winning and push up the ladder order it will be harder to split their selection and get an early-teens pick. So Fremantle still makes more sense for Richmond even if Baker is seen to want to get to West Coast. Plenty to play out still.
Is Dion Prestia certain to win another one-season deal given the need to give Thomson Dow and Kane McAuliffe centre-square chances when Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper return?
RALPH: As Brendon Bolton said recently, cutting your list too deep is career suicide. Given Prestia’s hamstring issues, it is doubtful a rival club would come calling. He is still a very strong contributor when fit, as shown by his 23 touches and six clearances against Brisbane. The Tigers midfield isn’t great, but Prestia is not the problem.
Can Tyler Sonsie secure midfield minutes amid the heavy losses given the No. 28 draft pick, contracted to 2025, has played mostly forward this year?
RALPH: Against the Western Bulldogs a fortnight back, Sonsie had six clearances playing half forward, but all of them were in the forward half and none in the centre square. Richmond is keen to get Dustin Martin and or Shai Bolton into the middle at times, but not Sonsie. He’s contracted, so he’s not going anywhere, but again why not give him some small bursts there given that’s what he was drafted as – a centre-square mid.
Is pick 29 Sam Banks a player of the future after averaging only nine possessions with some games with limited game time (11 minutes, 60 minutes, 67 minutes and 75 minutes) but also limited impact?
RALPH: Banks was the player most hyped in recent seasons, but Tom Brown has gone past him with his development this year. Fair enough, given Banks and Josh Gibcus were the top-20 picks of the five players taken in that 2021 national draft. But the Tigers desperately need some mid-range selections to over-achieve and Banks hasn’t been able to do it this season, despite ample opportunities. He’s only just turned 21 and playing in a terrible side, but fans might have liked to have seen more from Banks.
What financial package will the Tigers to throw at Dustin Martin as an incentive to stay given his reduced output, which included 16 possessions against Brisbane but only five kicks and 112m gained?
RALPH: Give him $600,000 a season – only just above the competition average – and realise it still might not be enough to keep him. He will likely have suitors, even if he’s not sure if he is playing on. But if he wants to play on at Richmond it surely won’t be a financial issue, it will be about fire in the belly. And if he goes not a single Tigers fan would begrudge him given all the Norm Smiths and all the memories.
Is someone at the club attempting to improve Shai Bolton’s kicking after another wasteful night with two errant and rushed shots at goal in the Lions demolition?
RALPH: Yze is seen as a kicking expert as a coach, but Bolton’s kicking hasn’t shown any signs of improvement. He was drafted as a blaster and against the Lions he blasted a 25m snap wide when he had so much more time than he realised. Then his set-shot kick from 55m saw him meandering left then darting right at the last second as his shot faded right and short.
It showed no sign of any discernible routine. Bolton is on well-north of $1 million and while his contested possessions and disposals, and scoreboard impact are all above average, his kicking is below average.
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