RICHMOND holds all the keys to this year’s AFL Draft, boasting a whopping eight selections inside the first 24 – including the coveted pick one. Having lost a raft of experienced players and club greats during the offseason, the Tigers are now primed to accelerate their rebuild over the next two intakes.

>> FREE: View the 2024 AFL Draft Guide

2024 RECORD: 18th | 2-21 | 63.7%
2024 PICKS: 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23, 24
FUTURE PICKS: RIC R1, RIC R2, RIC R4
ACADEMY/FATHER-SON NOMINEES: Nil.

FIRST PICK:
Pick 1

The options seem to be narrowed down to three for Richmond’s first selection, with plenty of intrigue still surrounding whose name will be called out. Sam Lalor is the frontrunner ahead of Finn O’Sullivan, while Jagga Smith remains an outside chance. A bid on Brisbane father-son gun Levi Ashcroft seems unlikely.

Of the three available prospects, Smith is arguably the most bankable. His consistency throughout the year has been second to none, averaging around 30 touches per game and racking up as many as 50. The whippet-like accumulator draws comparisons to Nick Daicos and was All-Australian captain.

One drawback with Smith is his slightly-built frame, though it proved no issue as me made the step-up to Richmond’s VFL side. There is some romance around the pick given he is a local talent, though similar can be said for Lalor, who has explosive traits akin to legendary fellow number four, Dustin Martin.

While Smith is a sure thing, Lalor would be a selection made on upside. His powerful physical makeup and ability to go forward are highly desirable attributes. He also missed large chunks of the year through injury and hasn’t had a full preseason, so could skyrocket with a clean run in the elite system.

Then there’s O’Sullivan, who was the consensus leading talent heading into 2024. His point of difference is his well-roundedness; boasting power overhead and at the contest, a booming kick, and good inside-outside balance. He also suffered injury setbacks this year but showed his class in the back-end.

What you get with Lalor and O’Sullivan is high impact-per-possession and game-winning ability. Smith, on the other hand, is the more safe option whose ceiling may not reach the same heights, but sets a higher floor than the rest. Richmond’s decision will come down to which aspect it values more.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23, 24

It’s a midfielder’s draft so there will be no surprise if Richmond opts to take another on-baller with its second pick (six). The variety between each top-end talent makes it a viable play, as each prospect offers a unique point of difference from pick one to 10.

Confident 195cm midfielder Josh Smillie has been heavily linked to the Tigers’ second selection, with his poise and polished ball use set to be a point of difference in Richmond’s current engine room. He can play just about anywhere though, with particularly good form in limited time down back.

There is a chance that Gippsland Power high-flyer Alix Tauru slips through to pick six. Richmond is into the 193cm utility, along with many other clubs in the same range, so if North Melbourne opts against selecting him he could slip past Melbourne and land at Punt Road.

There remains a host of other options for Richmond with picks 10 and 11. The Tigers could pounce on potential slider Murphy Reid, packaging him up with Sandringham Dragons teammate Harry Armstrong. The latter has also courted interest from Melbourne and St Kilda, between Richmond’s selections.

That being the case, perhaps another tall forward like Jack Whitlock or Jobe Shanahan would suit. Both will likely be off the board at Richmond’s next pick (currently 18). A target for the latter could be Jonty Faull, a teammate of Lalor who has been linked to Richmond for much of the year.

Aside from bids on club-tied talent like Isaac Kako (Essendon) and Leo Lombard (Gold Coast), other small-medium types will be on Richmond’s radar. Powerful midfielder-defender Bo Allan and hard-running utility Tobie Travaglia will both be in high demand in that range, and in contention.

A little further down the line, perhaps Richmond could package both Whitlocks and take Jack’s twin brother Matt with pick 18. Depending on what is already in the door, smalls like Jesse Dattoli and Harrison Oliver could be handy additions at either end of the ground in the 20s.

With eyes on building out an effective spine, defender Luke Trainor would also be hard to pass up as a prospect who was once considered a top five chance. He and top ruck talent Alex Dodson project as shrewd choices to help build Richmond’s tall stocks in addition to the early midfield targets.

There is really no limit as to what Richmond could do with its current hand. Keeping hold of all eight picks would generate a serious rejuvenation of the list, though there is wiggle room to package picks and climb up the order, or bolster its 2025 stocks by dangling one of its many first round carrots.

Given just how many integral senior players have gone out the door, the sheer depth of players Richmond will need to recruit is higher than any other club. Doing so across multiple drafts would be an informed move, though the talent of this year’s crop makes it tempting to stay put.

Aside from likely welcoming more than a half-dozen fresh faces to the fold, Richmond has also committed to rookie listing developing bigman Mate Colina, who was one of three delistings in an 11-player turnover this offseason.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Who will Richmond take with pick one?
– Can Richmond build its next premiership spine in one go?
– Will Richmond move up the order or strengthen its 2025 stocks via live trading?