RICHMOND traded up to Pick 1 from Pick 4 to take any fate out of the equation and select the player they felt would suit the club best from a trio of available options. While tossing up between a few names, they landed on a West Australian key forward who fits a clear need, before doubling up on Sandgropers with a mature-age Perth forward, and an electric Gippsland forward/midfielder.

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DRAFT HAUL

Pick 1. Olivia Wolmarans
Pick 38. Fina Dethlefsen
Pick 54. Baia Pugh

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

The Tigers continually weighed up the options for the first selection, with Victorian midfielder Chloe Bown and Metro teammate Scarlett Johnson the other two choices at the pick. After much discussion, the yellow and black opted for the point of difference in athletic key forward Wolmarans who provides an immediate target inside 50 and one who can really impact the scoreboard.

Wolmarans has plied her trade for Subiaco in the WAFLW and proven herself as a difficult matchup for any defender. Strong in the air and competitive at ground level, she has a booming kick and can equally set up teammates inside 50. She can pinch-hit through the ruck, though expect her to be a pure forward where she can do her best work.

Fellow West Australian Dethlefsen was a surprise selection by the Tigers, with the Perth forward definitely having a great year inside 50, but was one right under the radar. Richmond picked up the 174cm, 22-year-old who booted eight goals in 15 games crossing to Perth in 2025. She’s no stranger to sharing a forwardline with Wolmarans though, having come from Subiaco and played inside 50 alongside the top pick.

With the Tigers’ third and final selection, they chose high-upside, elite athlete Pugh who has a well-rounded base across the board. She is one who can run all day and work well from half-forward to the midfield, and though inexperienced in the code compared to a lot of her peers, came a long way in 2025, and will be one who can only further improve in an elite pathway.

GRADE: B+

Richmond secured the number one key forward in the draft and a vital need for a Tigers side that struggled to put up a winning score at times. Throwing in Dethlefsen and Pugh, it was clear Richmond opted for forward half pressure and spark to add a different look inside 50 for the team hoping to rise back up the ladder.