Richmond confirmed their status as the premier team in the competition when they demolished GWS to claim their second flag in three years.
After their breakthrough triumph in 2017, the Tigers missed out last season when they suffered a shock loss to Collingwood in the preliminary final. But there was no doubt that Richmond were the standout side of 2019, particularly after the mid-season bye when they won 12 straight games en route to the premiership.
As Richmond sit on the verge of establishing their next dynasty, what were the key off-season moves in years gone by that transformed the Tigers from a club sitting in the doldrums to one of the powerhouses of the competition.
Dion Prestia
The former Gold Coast midfielder expressed a desire to return home at the end of the 2016 season, nominating the Tigers as his club of choice. In hindsight, the Tigers got Prestia in a steal.
Richmond gave up their first round pick (which became number seven overall) to the Suns, as well as their future second round in the 2017 draft. The Tigers secured Prestia with the swap of those two draft selections, while also receiving back a second round pick from the Suns, which would result in a second key player making his way to Punt Road.
Prestia was one of the lynchpins in the Tigers revival through the second half of the season and dominated the Grand Final early. Prestia had 11 first-quarter possessions before having to deal with Giants tagger Matt deBoer for the remainder of the game. Prestia finished with 22 disposals and three tackles and capped off a stellar season claiming the Tigers’ club champion award.
The Suns for their part used pick seven on Jack Scrimshaw who managed just four games in two seasons at the club, before joining the Hawks at the end of 2018.
Josh Caddy
The flow-on trade from the Prestia deal saw the Tigers give up pick 24, which they had acquired from Gold Coast, to Geelong in a trade that saw Caddy join the club. The half-forward/midfielder joined the Tigers for the second round selection, as well as Richmond’s fourth-round pick, which ultimately became pick 60.
Geelong parted ways with Caddy, while also giving the Tigers their third round draft selection, which Richmond would ultimately use on South Australian Jack Graham. Graham was famously a member of the 2017 breakthrough in just his fifth game of AFL, but missed out on the 2019 premiership after dislocating his shoulder in the preliminary final against the Cats.
However, his ability to go back onto the ground through the second half of that match (with reports that his shoulder continually popped out), and contribute to the Tigers’ second half comeback received special praise from coach Damien Hardwick.
Having made his way to the Tigers, Caddy (at his third club) would now be a two-time premiership winner, although his output in 2019 wasn’t as consistent as two seasons earlier.
The Cats for their part would use the picks they received from Richmond on two exciting prospects in Brandan Parfitt (pick 24) and Quinton Narkle (pick 60).
Toby Nankervis
The 2016 off-season proved to be one of the key periods in Richmond history, with ruckman Toby Nankervis switching across from the Swans for the Tigers third round selection (number 45 overall). Nankervis had struggled to cement the number one ruck spot with Sydney, while the Tigers were in desperate need to fill the role.
Ivan Maric had held the role the previous few seasons, but could manage just three games during 2016 as he fell out of favour to Shaun Hampson. Hampson, however, remained an injury risk with Richmond keen to boost their ruck stocks. The trade would prove to be a masterstroke, with Hampson missing the entire 2017 season with a back injury, while back-up ruckman Ben Griffiths would appear in only the first two games of 2017 before concussion ended his season.
Having just arrived at the club, Nankervis was thrown into the lead ruck position, often performing the role solely as Richmond experimented with a number of different options as his support. Like Prestia and Caddy, Nankervis is now a dual premiership player although the Tigers opted for two ruckmen in 2019, with Ivan Soldo teaming up with Nankervis.
Jack Riewoldt
The Tigers landed their spearhead and Coleman medal winner with the first pick of the 2006 draft which came about after Richmond got involved in a three-way trade involving the Dockers and the Magpies.
The Tigers originally held pick 8, but gave up their first round pick to drop five spots down the order to pick 13, as well as their third round pick (number 42 overall) to secure tall forward Graham Polak. The trade of Polak enabled the Dockers to acquire the top ten pick they needed to bring in Chris Tarrant from the Magpies, while also sending Paul Medhurst the other way. A smaller aspect of the trade saw the Tigers and Magpies swap positions in the fourth round of the draft, Richmond sending pick 63 (which they received from Fremantle) to Collingwood for pick 60.
The Magpies used pick 8 on Ben Reid, but the Tigers were the winners from the early draft picks, selecting Riewoldt who would go on to lead the Tigers goal kicking in nine seasons, winning the Coleman medal on three occasions. Pick 60 wouldn’t be as successful, selecting Carl Peterson who failed to play a game at the Tigers in one season on the list.
The post-script to the three-way trade saw the Tigers eventually end up with one of their finest players. Richmond’s third round selection – number 42 overall – was sent to the Dockers as part of the trade that acquired Graham Polak. That selection was then packaged along with pick 47 by Fremantle in a trade with Essendon, that saw hard man Dean Solomon join the Dockers.
Essendon would go on to use the Tigers original pick on Bachar Houli, who would later walk out on the Bombers after just 26 games in four seasons. Despite the pleas of incoming coach James Hird, Houli nominated for the pre-season draft, frustrated by a lack of opportunity, with Punt Road his destination of choice. Richmond selected Houli with the third pick of the draft, virtually costing the Tigers nothing.
Daniel Rioli
The Tigers small forward fleet has been integral to their two flags and Daniel Rioli has been a key member, alongside the likes of Jason Castagna, Shai Bolton and Dan Butler. However, Rioli only made it to the Tigers after two failed academy bids. The Tigers held pick 13 in the first round of the 2015 draft and with their first attempt, bid to select Matthew Kennedy, who was a member of the Giants academy.
GWS matched the selection, but undeterred had another crack at an academy listed player, this time targeting Eric Hipwood who was linked with the Lions. Predictably, Brisbane matched the Tigers bid with Richmond then settling on Rioli with their third use of the draft pick.
And the rest…
Nick Vlaustin
Selected with the Tigers first pick in the 2012 National Draft, which was linked to their 12th placed finish. Richmond’s first selection drops down to number nine overall, with Melbourne and the Bulldogs receiving concession picks for losing uncontracted players Tom Scully and Callan Ward to GWS.
Dylan Grimes
The Tigers held over a draft selection following the 2009 National Draft, ultimately using their first pick in the pre-season draft (which was number two overall) on Dylan Grimes. The Demons had pick one of the pre-season draft, selecting ex-Brisbane defender Joel Macdonald.
Dustin Martin
After a disastrous 2009 season which had seen the Tigers plummet to second last on the ladder, Richmond had pick three in draft which was used on Dustin Martin. Melbourne were granted a priority selection for winning under five games for a second season running using their first two picks on Tom Scully and Jack Trengove. The Tigers struck gold with pick three in picking the dual Norm Smith and Brownlow medallist.
Brandon Ellis
The Tigers first pick at the 2011 National draft, after they finished 13th. With GWS monopolising the draft with 11 of the first 14 picks, Richmond’s first selection slid down to number 15 overall.
Trent Cotchin
Selected with the number two pick at the 2007 draft after Richmond collected the wooden spoon. The Tigers were bumped by the Blues who were granted a priority pick. Cotchin and close friend Matthew Kruezer were always expected to go 1-2 in the draft and it was up to Carlton to determine the final order. The Blues went with ruckman Kruezer, leaving Richmond to select Cotchin – a two-time premiership captain and Brownlow medallist.
Shane Edwards
Edwards was picked with Richmond’s second selection at the 2006 draft, linked to their final ladder position.
Jason Castagna
A steal at the 2015 rookie draft, Castagna was selected with the Tigers second choice, number 29 overall.
David Astbury
Selected with the Tigers third pick at the 2009 National Draft, number 35 overall.
Jayden Short
Another rookie selection at the 2015 rookie draft, Short was chosen with the Tigers first pick, number 11 overall.
Tom Lynch
One of the cheapest acquisitions in the modern era, Lynch walked to the Tigers as a free agent at the end of 2018, after eight seasons at the Gold Coast Suns. The only cost for Richmond was the loss of a second round compensation pick they had received when Reece Conca exercised his free agency rights to join the Dockers – small pittance for a key forward of Lynch’s calibre.
Kane Lambert
Another gem of the 2015 rookie draft for the Tigers, with Lambert arriving with pick 46.
Shai Bolton
The Tigers received a bonus compensation pick in the 2016 National Draft, after Ty Vickery opted to continue his career at Hawthorn. The move didn’t work for Vickery, managing just six games in one season on Hawthorn’s retiring at 27 years of age, citing a lack of passion for the game. Richmond, however, were able to draft small forward Shai Bolton with the second round selection.
Nathan Broad
A mature age recruit, selected with the Tigers fourth round pick, linked to their eighth placed finish at the end of 2015, number 67 overall.
Ivan Soldo
Another member of what can only be regarded as the finest batch of rookie selections for one club in one draft, Soldo was the final player taken by Richmond in the 2015 rookie draft at number 68 overall.
Liam Baker
The second year player was the Tigers first pick at the 2018 rookie draft – number 18 overall, after Richmond had claimed the previous year’s flag.
Marlion Pickett
One of the more remarkable stories of recent draft history. The Tigers secured a mid-season selection following the selfless retirement of Shaun Grigg, which would be the 13th selection overall with Richmond sitting fourth on the ladder after round 10. The Tigers chose Pickett, despite the South Fremantle player breaking a finger a week before the draft, that was set to rule him out for much of the year. Pickett did return to the field late in the season, with his best-afield performance in the Tigers VFL premiership enough for Richmond’s match committee to reward the mature age recruit with an historic debut in the Tiger’s 2019 flag.
sportsphrase.blog 