Richmond unlikely to figure in trade week, set to target forwards with two first-round picks

RICHMOND could do nothing in next week’s trade period and punt on a pair of talls with its two first-round picks in November’s national draft.

Richmond will lay low at the trade table.

RICHMOND expects to play little if any role in next week’s trade period and could punt on a pair of talls with its first two picks in November’s national draft.

Premiership key forward Jack Riewoldt turns 29 this month and was the sole big man in coach Damien Hardwick’s revolutionary forward line this season.

“Even though the structure worked, we would like to bring someone through at some stage soon to complement Jack,” Tigers football talent chief Dan Richardson said.

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“Not that that is immediate, Jack has got a few good years left in him, but it would be great to bring in a young key forward that he can mentor.”

The Tigers have picks 15, 17, 50, 53 and 72 and could select one or even two key forwards with their two first-round selections.

“We will work through that as we get closer to the draft, but we think there are some reasonable talls in the draft - and potentially both those picks could be key position players,” Richardson said.

Jack Riewoldt turns 29 this month.

Asked if exciting father-son prospect Patrick Naish was a lock to be taken by the Tigers, Richardson said: “He’s not a lock, no. There is obviously the romance of the father-son, but we’ve got to make the right decisions from a list perspective as well.”

Richmond was a major player in last year’s trade period, snaring Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy and Toby Nankervis, who all played in Saturday’s premiership.

But Richardson said the club was unlikely to part with any of its top-end picks this year.

“We expect to keep those picks and complement the youth already coming through our VFL program,” he said.

“That is the plan at this point. Obviously we need to keep improving. We can’t rest on our laurels because everyone else will improve as well, but we think our list is still quite young and that there is growth in it.”

He said Brisbane Lion forward Josh Schache would not be pursued, while out-of favour Western Bulldog Jake Stringer did not “fit a need”.

Will the Tigers take father-son prospect Patrick Naish in next month’s draft?

Former Carlton star Chris Yarran remained on the Richmond list this year and will open up an extra spot for next season.

Emerging talent in the Tigers’ VFL team includes small forwards Shai Bolton and Tyson Stengle, runners Oleg Markov, Jayden Short, Corey Ellis and Connor Menadue and talls Ryan Garthwaite, Callum Moore, Ivan Soldo and Mabior Chol.

“The kids that played really strong VFL footy — we expect that they will have a big role in driving the group forward — and that’s the likes of Markov, Menadue, Short, Garthwaite and Ellis who had a really strong finals series ... so we think those guys, even though they missed out, are hungry to keep improving,” he said.

Richardson said Anthony Miles, Sam Lloyd and Reece Conca had all expressed a desire to stay at Punt Rd.

“Milesy’s preference is to stay and our preference would be to retain him, but there’s an understanding that if there are opportunities out there that came up we will see how that unfolds,” he said.

“We will have some discussions with his management over the next week or so.

Anthony Miles keen to stay at Punt Rd.

Richmond has a wealth of talent in the VFL.

“Lloydy is contracted and he had a great year — we want him — and he was able to get himself fit enough to play a midfield role as well this year, which was terrific,” he said.

Back-up ruckman Shaun Hampson and tall forward Ben Griffiths are also contracted for next year.

“We are still hopeful that they can get themselves right and they finished the year pretty well — they can contribute next year for sure,” he said.

Talks over a new contract for small forward Jason Castagna, who earned $70,000 this season plus match payments, will begin next week.