Richmond's 2024 draft haul looks set to lay the foundations of their future, with the club diving into a list rebuild just four years on from a premiership campaign.

A two-win season followed by the departures of seven premiership players has seen the Tigers hold a significant draft hand that hasn't been seen in the AFL for some time.

Opening the night at Pick 1 - the first time in 20 years the Tigers have started the draft - Richmond will follow that selection with two more in the top 10 and a further five by Pick 24 to commence the second night of November's count.

With plenty of promising prospects set to land at Punt Road in the coming weeks, we assess how the Tigers could use their plethora of picks at the 2024 AFL Draft.

Draft Hand

Picks:ย 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23, 24

A truly unprecedented suite of selections for a non-expansion club, with Richmond's poor 2024 campaign mixing with an off-season exodus that has given the club seven selections in the first round and the prized opening picks for the first and second rounds.

The Tigers won't be moving from Pick 1, however may assess how they could advance their place in the queue after their opening selection with their following picks. The Tigers may decide to trade out one of their later picks for 2025 selections instead, with Picks 18, 20, 23 and 24 giving them four spots in seven consecutive slots and a vice on the conclusion of the first round.

That last selection - which will open night two of the draft - often carries a great deal of value as rival clubs queue up with strong trade offers to move to the front of the queue for the second round and snatch a player who was overlooked on opening night. Set as a second-round pick this year, Pick 24 may earn an offer that includes a first-round pick for 2025, given the strength and depth of this year's crop.

List Needs

Key Position Depth:ย Whether it be in attack, defence or in the ruck, the Tigers will be keen to add some height to their current squad in the early stages of their rebuild. Long-term successors for veteran pair Tom Lynch and Toby Nankervis could be found at this month's draft, with both players now past the age 30 barrier and transitioning into mentors for the club's emerging ranks. Richmond can rely on swingman Noah Balta at either end of the field and will look to have Josh Gibcus back early next year, with a handful of fringe options also on offer come selection. A ruckman who can develop his craft and contest with Samson Ryan, another key forward to press his case and perhaps a versatile tall could all be swooped on by the Tigers in the first round of the draft to fill their key position stocks.

Toby Nankervis during Richmond's open training on December 20, 2022 (Photo by Cameron Grimes/Zero Digital Sports)

Run and Spread:ย The Tigers have needed to add some speed to their current midfield mix for some time, while Daniel Rioli's departure has opened up a void to find a fresh line-breaking outlet in defence too. Shai Bolton's exit has left Richmond lacking the spark that can complement contested workhorses Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, while they've also lost wingman Marlion Pickett and may be without Kamdyn McIntosh after the 2025 season. The Tigers do have some formidable dashers coming through in Tom Brown, James Trezise, Sam Banks and Hugo Ralphsmith, but further ball carriers in the backline and through midfield are sure to be in the Tigers' sights.

Ready-Made Talent:ย Should the Tigers use all eight selections at the draft, then there's a good chance that half of those new recruits will have a live chance to play Round 1 next year. The 11 players that have left the club since the season ended tallied 120 games in the yellow and black this year, opening up several senior roles that need to be filled. This year's draft pool includes a wealth of teenagers who are primed to have an impact in 2025, and a few of those prospects could make their way to Punt Road in the opening round. The Tigers can use their strong draft hand to address many list needs, with additional midfield depth and flank options viable to grace the AFL stage early next year.

Potential Targets

Sam Lalor:ย A name viewed to be the leading chance to go Pick 1 and call Richmond home, Tigers fans will be excited by the prospect of acquiring Lalor given his likeness to departed champion Dustin Martin. The GWV Rebels midfielder is a big-bodied ball-winner who uses his size, physicality and explosiveness as a difference-maker at the coalface. While injury limited his draft campaign, Lalor's upside might be the best among the top draft picks. Oakleigh Chargers ace Finn O'Sullivan and teammate Jagga Smith would also be considered at Pick 1, and, like Lalor, could be ready for early season debuts. Eastern Ranges bull Josh Smillie is in a similar position and could be on offer at Pick 6, while later first-round pick chances in Murray Bushrangers small forward Joe Berry and Gippsland Power swingman Alix Tauru are others who may be viewed as ready-made assets.

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Tobie Travaglia:ย A formidable half-back/wing hybrid whose maturity could find him lining up under the big lights come March next year. Travaglia enjoyed a stellar year across his commitments with the Bendigo Pioneers, Vic Country and the AFL Academy, earning Team of the Year selections for the Talent League and U18s National Championships. He looked comfortable across a pair of VFL appearances for Carlton, where he was able to flex his speed, line-breaking prowess, ball-winning nous and aerial game against senior opposition. WA captain Bo Allan will be one the Tigers will look at with Picks 10 and 11 also, with the Peel Thunder premiership player a damaging midfield-defender. Like Travaglia and Allan, Morrish Medal winner Xavier Lindsay could be a good option to slot into a half-back role while offering some midfield depth.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 09: Tobie Travaglia of Vic Country handpasses the ball during the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Boys match between Vic Country and South Australia at IKON Park on June 09, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Rob Lawson/AFL Photos)

Alex Dodson:ย The best ruck prospect on offer, Dodson could call Punt Road home as a selection in the second half of the opening round of the draft. The South Australian is a mobile and hard-working 201cm talent who can cover the ground nicely to impact the game with his strong aerial presence. Given skipper Toby Nankervis has a bit of time before handing over the baton, a move for Dodson would give the Sturt junior time to develop his craft and work under a triple premiership tall before one day taking over the reins. Given Richmond's profile of picks, a pure ruckman outside of Dodson isn't exactly an option, however a player like Western Australia's Aiden Riddle or GWV Rebels talent Floyd Burmeister could be assessed as rookie picks. Sandringham Dragons forward Harry Armstrong is a key forward for the Tigers to consider at Pick 6 or hope for at Picks 10 and 11, while Vic Country twins Jack and Matt Whitlock, Vic Metro key defender Luke Trainor and Allies forward Jobe Shanahan are others in the mid-first-round mix.