Richmond could secure father-son Patrick Naish outside its top three draft picks
THERE is plenty to like about Richmond father-son prospect Patrick Naish. However, the rising star has failed Champion Data’s “Magic Number” test. Will this scare clubs off come draft night?
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RICHMOND is set to be spared a difficult draft call on Patrick Naish with the Tigers likely to secure three top-25 talents before a bid arrives on the father-son prospect.
The Tigers will target tall players at Friday night’s draft and using picks 17, 20 and 25 before matching a bid for Naish would be a dream finale to a premiership year.
Richmond has been nervous that an early bid would come after five clubs visited Naish’s home during the season and then Fremantle also interviewed him at draft combine.
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But queries on whether the outside midfielder can win his own ball should help Richmond secure the son of 143-game Tiger Chris Naish at a cheaper price.
Naish’s junior career failed Champion Data’s “Magic Number” rule.
That states that draft prospects who win less than 30 per cent of their possessions contested usually struggle in the AFL.
Naish recorded a contested possession rate of 27 per cent from 32 matches.
He averaged 22 possessions for Vic Metro this year, but only 4.5 contested.
A bunch of high draft picks have failed to kick on after recording similar numbers — James Aish, Billy Hartung, Cale Morton and Jimmy Toumpas.
By contrast, No. 1 favourite Cameron Rayner won an impressive 53 per cent of his junior disposals contested across 29 matches.
Rayner and top-five pick Paddy Dow went at 60 per cent at the national championships.
Naish only cracked 100 SuperCoach points in four of his 32 matches.
But he boasts a beautiful right foot and was the No. 1 metres gained player at the national championships.
Naish’s average of 516m was 105m better than the next player as he impressed some recruiters with his natural dare and offensive run.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick has also shown the ability to reprogram outside players.
This year Brandon Ellis went from an uncontested player to one who could win his own ball and use it aggressively.
While Naish can sometimes bite off too much by foot, one recruiter said he had a raking kick and would “look good in (our) jumper”.
Naish’s two younger brothers- Xavier, 16 and Charlie, 12 — are also hopeful of playing for Richmond.
The diehard Richmond fan kicked 10.3 in his 100th junior match and has trained at Punt Rd the past two summers.
Naish grew up idolising Brett Deledio. He sat in the MCG stands watching Richmond’s premiership after recording 21 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency in the curtain-raiser.
He would add a lick of class to Richmond’s existing pressure and grunt.
The Tigers could secure sliding swingman Jarrod Brander at pick 17 on Friday night.
Top-five prospect Jaidyn Stephenson might also be available as clubs reassess his heart condition.
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