Richmond’s 2014 recruiting paying dividends after Tigers went for youth and speed
RICHMOND recruiters have long copped it for poor decisions, like taking Richard Tambling before Lance Franklin, but is the tide finally turning thanks to one shrewd year?
Richmond
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DRAFTING disasters have been a common thread in Richmond’s success-starved recent history.
Who could forget the Tigers picking Richard Tambling at No. 4 in the 2004 draft, ahead of Sydney superstar Lance Franklin?
What about Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, who played just 13 games after being selected with pick No. 8 in 2005?
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Or even Ty Vickery, another pick 8 in 2008 who never reached his potential at Punt Rd and is now playing VFL at Box Hill?
Just a few of the busts, those three players have become poster-boys for Richmond fans frustrated by their team’s poor recruiting in recent times.
But the tide might be turning — just take a look at 2014, from where a lot of the Tigers’ improvement this year has spawned.
During compromised drafts in 2012 and 2013, Richmond brought in a string of recycled players from other clubs including Chris Knights, Aaron Edwards, Ricky Petterd, Addam Maric, Todd Banfield, Matt Thomas and Shaun Hampson.
In 2014, the Tigers changed tact.
A second elimination final exit in as many years indicated the list they had was not going to be able to take the next step.
So the club went back to youth, with a clear focus on speed and running ability.
“The way footy is going, you just need that running capacity to get up and down the ground,” then Richmond recruiting manager Francis Jackson told the AFL website at the time.
“So when we draft these kids, they’re going to be playing in three to four years’ time and those attributes will allow them to be the best players they can.”
Richmond used five picks in the 2014 national draft — Corey Ellis (pick 12), Connor Menadue (pick 33), Nathan Drummond (pick 52), Dan Butler (pick 67) and Reece McKenzie (pick 77).
Only key forward McKenzie — who retired due to mental health issues last year — is no longer at Punt Rd.
Classy midfielder Ellis has been hampered by hip, foot and groin injuries during his first three seasons but has shown good signs in his 22 AFL games — particularly over the past three weeks — while two knee reconstructions have restricted Drummond to five games.
But onballer Menadue (28 games) continues to grow and Butler has been a find so far down the order, averaging 12 disposals and almost five score involvements while kicking 20 goals from 17 games as a small forward this season.
It was the proceeding rookie draft where the Tigers really hit the jackpot, though.
Richmond made four new selections there — Jayden Short (pick 11), Jason Castagna (pick 29) Kane Lambert (pick 46) and Ivan Soldo (pick 67), while also redrafting Matthew Arnot who they had delisted.
Between them Short, Castagna and Lambert have played 53 of a possible 57 games this season.
Lambert is averaging 84 SuperCoach ranking points through the midfield, Short — while dropped to the VFL a fortnight ago — has averaged 366 metres gained from 15 disposals a game as a run and rebound player off halfback and Castagna has kicked 23 goals and is averaging five score involvements as a small forward.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Then there is Soldo, the cousin of Ivan Maric and former state basketballer who played his first ever football game for TAC Cup club Northern Knights in July 2014.
Just over three years on, the 204cm 21-year-old has six AFL games to his name, during which he has averaged more than 20 hit-outs and almost two clearances.
While still raw, the Tigers expect Soldo’s extraordinary rise to continue on its steep upwards trajectory.
He could just be the cherry on top of what is, right now, appearing to be the year the Tigers finally nailed its selections at the draft table, decisions which have been a large part of Richmond’s rise up the ladder in 2017.
RICHMOND’S 2014 DRAFTING
National Draft
Pick 12: Corey Ellis
Pick 33: Connor Menadue
Pick 52: Nathan Drummond
Pick 67: Dan Butler
Pick 77 Reece McKenzie
Rookie Draft
Pick 11: Jayden Short
Pick 29: Jason Castagna
Pick 46: Kane Lambert
Pick 61: Matt Arnot
Pick 68: Ivan Soldo
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