Richmond bolsters attack with Ben Lennon, Nathan Gordon and Sam Lloyd in national draft
RICHMOND has bolstered its attacking arsenal with a top-12 draft pick, an SANFL goalsneak and a bush legend.
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RICHMOND devoted an entire draft to bolstering its attacking arsenal, recruiting a top-12 draft pick, an SANFL goalsneak and a bush legend.
The Tigers unashamedly focused on their forward half, thrilled that Northern Knights mid-sized forward Ben Lennon was still available at selection 12.
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He had spent a week with the Tigers in February as part of the AFL-AIS program and both parties fell in love with each other.
But it was the club's last two picks that showed that while it overlooked Geelong's Paul Chapman, Richmond was desperate for more goalscoring power.
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At pick 50 the Tigers gave North Adelaide's Nathan Gordon another chance after he played two games for Sydney and was an emergency nine times in 2012 before being dumped six days after the Grand Final.
The 23-year-old is a clever half-forward who kicked 33 goals in the SANFL, with fellow 23-year-old Sam Lloyd another goalkicker lured to Punt Road with selection 66.
His journey is epic - 100 goals as a bush full forward with Deniliquin, suburban footy with Mount Eliza, a handful of VFL games with the Bendigo Gold, then VFL with Frankston this year.
Richmond recruiting boss Francis Jackson said there was real opportunity for all of the three forwards to make their mark after the club used its second pick to trade for Carlton ruckman Shaun Hampson.
"There is definitely opportunity for them and they are physically ready to go. Nathan played a full year of SANFL footy and had a really strong finals series. He is good with his contested footy and a goalkicker," he said.
"In our rankings (Lennon) was clearly the next-ranked player at 12. He spent his AIS week with us and it really gives you an insight into how the kids fit in. We gave him feedback on a few things and it was really pleasing to see him address those things.
"Sam kicked a lot of VFL goals this year and he is an old-fashioned really clever read-the-play forward. He can crumb, he played for Vic Metro in the VFL game and kicked four goals over there, and he has made a concerted effort to improve his running capacity."
Lennon is an exceptional overhead mark for his size, with the All-Australian also benefiting from sizzling foot skills on both sides of his body.
After recruiting hard-bodied midfielders Dustin Martin, Nick Vlastuin, Reece Conca and Brandon Ellis in recent years, the 188cm, 77kg forward is the perfect player to round out Richmond's list.
"I am ecstatic. All through the year I really wanted to get to Richmond after being at the club for a week in February, so it's really good. It was up the air, I thought pick 10 at Collingwood was a strong chance, but to get my name called out at Richmond, I am over the moon," Lennon said.
"I play a unique position and I have to work really hard to give myself a chance, and I am sure I can do that."
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