Gary Buckenara analyses Richmond’s needs and players to target during off-season

RICHMOND can’t afford to lose Dustin Martin, but it can’t afford to pay any price to keep him. List guru GARY BUCKENARA reveals what the Tigers need and who they should target.

Dustin Martin of the Tigers.

THE Tigers are playing a really good brand of footy and I’m happy to see, for Damien Hardwick’s sake, it’s translating into wins.

The priority for Richmond this off-season is to keep Dustin Martin. As a club I don’t think the Tigers can afford to lose him – their supporters will try to tear Punt Rd down if they don’t do everything they can to keep him.

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There does come a point as a footy club though, as Hawthorn did with Lance Franklin, that you say we don’t want to lose him but we can’t do that deal, it would be irresponsible of us to do that deal so you let the player go begrudgingly.

I believe Martin loves Richmond and wants to stay so if they can get within $100,000-$200,000 or in the ball park of his best rival offer then he’ll be at the Tigers next year and beyond.

I don’t think Richmond would need to be tabling the best offer for him to stay.

Dustin Martin is top of the wish list for a number of clubs.

The ruck position is a worry despite the addition of Toby Nankervis. He’s come in and done a really good job but he’ll get tired, so who’s going to be the back-up?

Ivan Maric is at the end of his career, Ivan Soldo is a developing ruckman and it’s hard to ask him to shoulder such a load and Shaun Hampson has his injury worries. So Richmond requires another experienced ruckman.

Richmond also needs another tall up forward to help Jack Riewoldt. Ben Griffiths on his day can be anything but he’s so inconsistent and has concussion issues and Todd Elton hasn’t stepped up.

The addition of another key forward would shore up their structure, while allowing Riewoldt to play closer to goal because that’s where he plays his best footy.

The defence is solid with Alex Rance, David Astbury and Dylan Grimes playing tall but you can never have enough key position players and targeting one would be smart list management.

The Tigers also need more players with pace and who use the ball well.

Matthew Lobbe could partner Toby Nankervis in the ruck.

WHO SHOULD THEY TARGET?

Matthew Lobbe isn’t getting a game for Port Adelaide because Paddy Ryder is in such good form, so the Tigers should be asking whether he’d be interested in a move to Punt Rd.

Bringing him in would allow Nankervis to as a forward/ruck because he’s capable of taking a big mark and kicking a goal. I also worry about his endurance. Lobbe could come in and change the dynamic of the side and give Hardwick more options.

If Martin does leave, the Tigers should put themselves into the market for Josh Kelly — and they should make a big play because they would need to sell something to their members. He would be really beneficial because he’s got that outside speed and good ball use they need.

After missing out on Josh Schache, Sydney’s Sam Reid should be their second priority and would be a perfect fit to play alongside and take the pressure off Riewoldt.

The Tigers desperately needed another tall marking target — like Sam Reid — on Saturday.

He’s contracted, but Lachie Whitfield would be a good fit – he is a bit more of an outside player who uses the ball well and has good leg speed so that would help them.

Jason Johannisen should be a target as well to partner Bachar Houli off half-back as a line-breaker with pace and good skills who can get the ball into the forward line quickly.

The Tigers should also be in the market for Port’s Jasper Pittard and ask the question of Mitch McGovern from Adelaide even though he’s from Western Australia originally.

The addition of Reid would shore up their structure, as would going after a player like Steven May even though the Tigers’ defence has stood up well so far this year with Alex Rance and David Astbury playing key position.

UNTOUCHABLES

Dion Prestia, Dustin Martin*, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Daniel Rioli, Alex Rance, Toby Nankervis, Shai Bolton, Corey Ellis, Dan Butler, Jason Castagna.

*Would not be discussed as available to other clubs if he wasn’t a free agent

Please note: AFL clubs have a list of a number of players they are targeting at the end of the season and this is the list Gary Buckenara would have in the hope of luring at least one to the club.

Gary Buckenara was Hawthorn’s sole full-time recruiting staff member from 2004 before the Hawks brought in Chris Pelchen and then Graham Wright as recruiting and list manager and expanded the recruiting department.