By Marc McGowan
No.1 pick contender Sam Lalor would love to carry on Dustin Martin’s legacy in the No.4 if he becomes a Tiger in next month’s draft, but believes Richmond should retire the club legend’s number.
Lalor is as good a candidate as any to follow in Martin’s footsteps, given he wore the same number for GWV Rebels and Geelong Grammar. His physical style and midfield-forward, one-two punch also draws constant comparisons to the champion Tiger.
Sam Lalor is in contention to join Richmond as the No.1 draft pick.Credit: Darrian Traynor
“I was pretty lucky that at school footy and the Rebels, they both gave me No.4. I’ve loved it, and it’s my favourite number now,” Lalor told The Age. “It would be a dream come true [to wear Martin’s number at Richmond].”
The Tigers, including list boss Blair Hartley and national recruiting manager Chris Toce, have a titanic call to make with the top selection this year in a strong, but even, draft crop without an obvious No.1 candidate.
Recruiting sources told this masthead they believe Richmond were keen on midfield bull Lalor and richly talented onballer Finn O’Sullivan, but the Tigers also auditioned fellow highly touted prospects Jagga Smith and Harvey Langford in the VFL.
Richmond were one of nine clubs who interviewed Lalor, who is the No.1 prospect in The Age’s latest rankings, at the draft combine in Melbourne on Saturday.
“I really loved the week at Richmond, and the game. I got to spend a few training sessions with the VFL squad, so I had heaps of fun with them,” Langford said.
“I’m a Richmond fan, so it was pretty cool to play with a few of those AFL boys in the VFL. I had some pretty nice moments playing in that game ... coming up against some bigger bodies, I felt pretty comfortable. The speed of the game was another level, but I felt pretty comfortable with that, too.
“It’s pretty tight at the top end of the draft, and they’re not giving away too much, so it will be an interesting decision at the end of the day because there are probably five or six boys [in the mix].”
Smith, who spent time with the Tigers in December last year for his AFL Academy placement, averaged a gaudy 27 disposals, 16 contested possessions and six clearances in three VFL appearances for the yellow and black.
Finn O’Sullivan (left) with Jagga Smith after the 2km time trial at the draft combine. They are both on Richmond’s radar.Credit: AFL Photos
The 18-year-old onballer is an extraordinary ball-winner who thrives in finding gaps where others cannot at crowded stoppages, and would welcome the expectation that comes with being the dux of any draft class.
“If you want to be the best at something; there’s no point not striving to be the No.1 pick,” Smith said.
“That’s something that’s stuck with me. I know there is pressure that comes with that, but I think when I get into the system; people will be around me, helping me through that. To go pick one would be a massive honour, but I also know there are a lot of [other] good players as well.”
O’Sullivan, a popular choice among his peers to be the top choice despite an injury-riddled year, is also on Richmond’s radar.
“I’m fairly lucky having school still because it takes a lot of pressure off, and means you’re not thinking about it too much,” O’Sullivan said. “I just want to go the highest that I can, and if it’s one, it’s one, but if it’s not one, that’s fine.”
Richmond are enamoured with big-bodied midfielder Josh Smillie, too, who hails from Park Orchards, the same club Hartley has coached at for years, including his son’s under-14s team this past season. Smillie, a 195cm midfielder in the Patrick Cripps mould, is another player who has experienced pick one hype.
“Everyone has links, and at the end of the day, whichever club picks me up [will be great] – it’s been a dream ever since I was a kid. I just want to play AFL footy,” Smillie said.
“We’ll see what happens, but it does seem pretty nice to hopefully be a Richmond Tiger. I think what separates me from the others is my uniqueness of being a tall midfielder and pretty versatile, but the pick is just a number.”
In reality, the Tigers could snag two of the above group because they will score Gold Coast’s top selection, which is currently No.6, as at least part of their return in the impending Daniel Rioli trade.
Fellow Richmond stars Shai Bolton and Liam Baker are also set to fetch further first-round selections to seal their respective moves to Fremantle and West Coast, respectively.
The Dockers hold picks 10, 11 and 18 – pushed back by free agency compensation selections handed to St Kilda (No.8) and GWS (No.16) – while Hawthorn’s pick 14 will end up with the Eagles in any Tom Barrass deal, and could be forwarded to Richmond for Baker.
Two of those Fremantle selections might find themselves in the Tigers’ grasp.
The Saints will potentially jump in first with their back-to-back top-10 selections, but key-position talents such as Sandringham teammates Harry Armstrong and Luke Trainor, or Gippsland Power bolter Alix Tauru – if he is available – might be in Richmond’s sights as well.
The opportunity to potentially join the Tigers’ rebuild under Adem Yze at effectively ground level excites Smillie.
“I’d want to walk straight into the club and [make an impact] from day one,” he said.
“I’m a very determined player, and I want the best for myself and everyone around me. There are a lot of highly talented and really good blokes who are here [in the draft], and everyone will have the same mindset of doing that. Just because we’re 18 years of age, it doesn’t mean we can’t change anything.”
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