Could Richmond pass up father-son prospect Patrick Naish if draft price too high?

AFL talent boss Kevin Sheehan says former Richmond forward Chris Naish’s son Patrick has a massive upside, but will the Tigers pay the expected heavy price?

RICHMOND is indicating it is prepared to pass on Patrick Naish if made to pay too high a price for the talented father-son.

But AFL clubs believe the Tigers are likely to take half back and midfielder Naish with one of their two first-round picks which fall at 15 and 16.

AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said the brilliant ball user still had a massive upside after his breakout year in the TAC Cup.

EXPRESSIONS: THE EMOJI THAT SUMS UP YOUR CLUB’S TRADE PERIOD

GROW UP: MICK MALTHOUSE SAYS ‘GO HOME’ FACTOR NO EXCUSE

Patrick Naish is seen as one of the best prospects in the draft. Picture: Stephen Harman

Likely to be used as a long-kicking wingman and small forward until he grows into his frame, the 18-year-old is the son of 143-game Tigers forward Chris Naish.

Unlike some of the big-bodied midfielders in the draft he might take time to play senior footy.

But Sheehan says he has a raking kick, innate goal sense and a strong mark for his size after averaging 22 possessions and 89 rankings points for Vic Metro.

The Tigers have been aggressive bidders on a trio of academy players in recent years under the draft bidding system.

They missed out on all of Academy-linked players Jacob Hopper, Matthew Kennedy and Eric Hipwood, but are adamant they genuinely wanted those players.

The bidding system before the national draft allows clubs to lodge bids for players, with their affiliated clubs needing to take them with the next pick if they want them.

The industry expects given Naish’s talent a club will make a bid around the Tigers’ early picks to ensure he doesn’t fall through to the second round.

The Tigers wanted Eric Hipwood, but missed out. Picture: Getty Images

“The feeling is there might be some payback,” one recruiting source said.

But Sheehan said the Tigers could not lose with Naish given the way he kept rising to another level in his final TAC Cup year.

“He is a light-bodied kid but he has come on enormously. Last year he was just a hopeful but he improved out of sight,” he said yesterday.

“He had a brilliant year at the nationals and was dominant at Ivanhoe Grammar. He also went forward and kicked goals.

“He is more outside than inside now but he could easily play a small forward or wing role.

“He played on a wing in the nationals and was fantastic. He cuts back inside well, has a lovely step and acceleration.

Richmond does not have a second-round pick — its next picks are 50 and 52 — so it would have to make up points if it matched a club’s bid in the 20s.

Chris Naish played 143 games for the Tigers.

Chris’s son, Patrick, is a red-hot draft prospect. Picture: Getty Images

“He uses the ball well, has an innate sense for goal and when he has one step to kick goals over his shoulder he still does,’’ Sheehan said.

“He is exciting to watch, a terrific kid and likeable in groups, so he’s a really exciting young player.”

All clubs scrutinised Jackson Edwards, the son of Adelaide great Tyson, at Saturday’s state screening.

He is seen to be in contention for a later pick, with Adelaide last year rookie-listing Ben Jarman, the son of Crows premiership hero Darren Jarman.