THE 2017 premiers bowed out in disappointing circumstances in the preliminary final to a red-hot Collingwood, but then got the man they were after in Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch to boost the key forward stocks at the club. Richmond was often beaten at the stoppages, so big-bodied inside midfielders are the main priority at this year’s draft,  as well as some depth on the outside, and likely another ruck.

List needs:

• Big-bodied inside midfielder/s
• Ruck
• Outside midfielder depth

Draft Picks: 17, 37, 64, 68, 74, 92

Richmond is a fairly settled side heading into the AFL Draft but there are plenty of names being linked to the Tigers with their first selection. Expect it to be best available, though if that happens to be an inside midfielder, all the better. Liam Stocker seems to be the name mostly linked to Richmond at pick 17, while Luke Valente could be a chance given the pick is likely to be pushed beyond 20 with bids coming into play. With a late draft invitation today, Ely Smith could be the late bolter who Richmond turn to on the night. Perhaps the Tigers might opt for a more rounded Xavier Duursma, or they might look to the leadership of Ian Hill despite the need for bigger bodies. Do not be shocked if someone like a Richmond pulls the trigger on West Australian, Luke Foley, though with Stocker likely on the board, Richmond would be expected to opt for the Sandringham midfielder. Ned McHenry or Sam Sturt are others who are expected to be available and could be highly rated by the club.

With pick 37, there are likely to be plenty of inside midfielders available should the Tigers hold off on their round one selection. Or they could double dip taking Stocker, then selecting Calder Cannons co-captain, Jack Bytel with this selection. James Rowbottom could be there, although Essendon have strong interest in him at pick 34. Small in stature but bigger in body size, inside bulls Tom Joyce or Tom Lewis might come into consideration knowing neither will be there at Richmond’s next pick. Jack Ross is another player who the Tigers might look at as a more balanced option who is still more developed than most others.

With their remaining selections, expect the Tigers to take best available, which in our Phantom Draft, was Tom McKenzie, Harry Reynolds and Brayden Ham, all of whom are very different players and offer different skillsets for the Tigers. At these late picks it is hard to pick who will be there, but they could consider ruck, Riley Bowman potentially if he is still on the board, or if they are looking for some outside run and kicking, perhaps Gippsland Power’s Matthew McGannon, or Western Australia’s Damon Greaves. In the forward half, Tyron Smallwood or Angus Hanrahan might come into the Tigers’ thinking, or they could take a mature-age ruck in Darcy Fort potentially.