ANOTHER couple of top 10 picks ensured Richmond was able to add more top-end talent to its young and developing list at this year’s AFL Draft. The Tigers selected three out of four South Australians in the haul, with speed and competitiveness a key trait in the haul.

>> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Rookie Draft
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DRAFT HAUL

NATIONAL DRAFT:
Pick 7. Sam Cumming
Pick 8. Sam Grlj
Pick 31. Zane Peucker
Pick 54. Noah Roberts-Thomson

>> CLICK each player’s names for full profiles & highlights

Cumming has an untapped ceiling and boast some fantastic power as a half-forward or rolling into the midfield. His natural competitiveness comes to the fore and will work up and down the ground with some nice speed, while also being able to compete in the air. He is one to plonk at half-forward and let him go to work.

Grlj boasts some elite speed, and like Cumming has serious potential. The theme of ‘competitiveness’ will pop up across the board, and while not a massive accumulator, the Oakleigh Chargers midfielder-defender does offer linebreaking run and power. He is the more defensive version of Cumming, though both offer variations within their profiles.

Peucker is much the same with his elite speed and power on display, working hard in the front half of the ground. He might be a little longer to make his debut as he builds up his tank for AFL level, but the talented South Australian has plenty of hurt factor when he is on-song. His ability to hit the scoreboard and bring others into the game is what drew clubs to him.

Finally, a third South Australian in Roberts-Thomson is thrown into the mix, and like the others, has some nice wheels on him. He moves well and has terrific footy IQ, while also being clean around the coalface. He too can play forward or through the middle, and knows where the goals are too, averaging more than a goal per game from 23 touches and five marks in the SANFL Under 18s and was a nice value late selection.

GRADE: B+

Richmond was never going to lose with the picks it had, and clearly the Tigers wanted speed, power and competitiveness amongst its ranks. The quartet all offer variations of that, so the coaching group will be excited to see what they can offer next year and beyond. The two top 10 draftees should see action next year, with the other two likely to be a little longer, but anything is possible in the rebuild at Punt Road.