By Peter Ryan
Credit:
If Richmond remain on the bottom of the ladder, they could hold the No.1 selection in the national draft for the first time since 2004 when they selected Brett Deledio.
A percentage gap of just 1.1 keeps them below North Melbourne after 17 games, with both clubs having won two games so far in 2024, meaning their round 21 clash looms as the decider.
Not that winning that prized pick is as important this season, with no Harley Reid in a draft pool that is dominated by an even spread of talented Victorian midfielders.
A knee reconstruction set back Josh Gibcus’ development, but he has shown his class as a defender. Credit: AFL Photos
The Tigers are going to get a quality player with an early selection regardless of where they finish, but they have also set themselves up for a fresh era under Adem Yze after having one last dip under Damien Hardwick before the premiership coach jumped ship midway through last year.
Newly appointed recruiting manager Chris Toce, who graduated from St Kilda, has joined the highly regarded Blair Hartley with five picks inside pick 41, which, right now, are picks 1, 21, 34, 39 and 41.
Depending on the draft rules, they could also use later picks 52, 57, 63 and 66 to either find a nugget late, or package them up to push higher up the draft, as was their plan when they traded during last year’s national draft under the assumption the rules would not change for at least a year.
They also have some natural movement potentially occurring, which will bolster their access to some ‘new toys’ for Hardwick’s replacement to develop.
Liam Baker has offers from Richmond, West Coast and Fremantle to consider at season’s end, with the Tigers aware that, although he loves Punt Road, the pull of home is strong. If Baker, who continues to play well, leaves, a pick in the teens (somewhere around a baker’s dozen) would be a possible return. The Dockers have the draft collateral to satisfy such a need, and knowledge the Eagles have a higher pick in the pre-season draft will help encourage Fremantle to be realistic.
West Coast don’t have picks in the mid-teens, but the Tigers’ former recruiter Matt Clarke would probably have to find a way to make that happen if Baker wanted to become an Eagle.
Turning a rookie selection 18 at the end of a premiership year into a dual-premiership player worth a pick in the teens (if he left seven years later) is good business.
Unsigned veteran Dion Prestia showed on Sunday how important he is to the team as it regenerates and is a strong chance to continue, while skipper Toby Nankervis re-signed this year too. Nothing would surprise with Dustin Martin, but a move to the Gold Coast is possible – albeit with compensation likely to be minimal – while Jack Graham is yet to extend. If either of them leave, another pick, potentially in the second round, is possible, with any compensation for Martin to be based on his new contract, not his past achievements.
If Liam Baker decides to return to Western Australia, the Tigers could land a pick in the teens, giving them a strong hand in a strong draft.Credit: Getty Images
The Suns are keeping an eye on Daniel Rioli, but finding a way to secure a valuable contracted player is easier said than done, while Yze bolted the door on Bolton leaving at a recent media conference. There are only so many players you can afford to lose, and there are only so many a club can gain at one time.
Samson Ryan recently re-signed while the improving Hugo Ralphsmith will stay too. The unsigned Thomson Dow’s future is unclear as the emerging midfielder battles for opportunity.
Although the Tigers overpaid for Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, they are both handy acquisitions at their age – 27 and 28 respectively at the start of next season – as they bring steel to a team that has carried their injury list like a barnacle on a ship’s hull in Yze’s first season as coach.
Re-emerging from the bottom is not easy, with Carlton the most recent wooden spooner to make the finals after finishing bottom in 2018. With an early pick, a new CEO to replace Brendon Gale (the most important decision the club will make in the next 12 months), and talented players in the middle of their careers, Richmond return to where they were 20 years ago with a few success stories to draw upon when the army’s faith is tested.
Vic Metro’s Josh Smillie is a potential No.1 draft pick but clubs say they would be just as happy with any of the top-10 players available.Credit: AFL Photos
There’s no Harley Reid but no duds either as clubs drool over draft pool
Three club recruiters this masthead spoke to said the No.1 pick – long considered to be Vic Country midfielder Finn O’Sullivan or Vic Metro hybrid Josh Smillie – is not as cut and dried in 2024 as it was last season. O’Sullivan remains highly touted, but he battled for form in the under-18 national championships after returning from injury, while the big-bodied Smillie – who looks like a younger version of Hawthorn’s Josh Weddle – has admirers.
The three recruiters consider a range of prospects – such as O’Sullivan, Smillie, Jagga Smith, Sam Lalor, Murphy Reid, South Australian Sid Draper, and Lions father-son Levi Ashcroft – as worthy top picks, while talls such as Harry Armstrong and Luke Trainor (who has family connections to North Melbourne) shot up the charts after impressive displays in the classic Vic Metro v Vic Country clash at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Is the sun setting on this forward’s time with Gold Coast?
It remains to be seen whether restricted free agent Ben Ainsworth has played his final game for the Suns after he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against Port Adelaide. He has an offer on the table from Gold Coast amid Essendon interest.
Irish eyes are smiling
Conor Nash has become a key part of the Hawthorn midfield. Credit: AFL Photos
Unrestricted free agent Conor Nash is on track to re-sign with the Hawks soon, according to an industry source familiar with the negotiations, as positive discussions continue to extend the 25-year-old’s deal. Nash has bounced back to good form in the midfield, following a lull in the early part of the season as he attempted to back up from his breakout season in 2024.
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