Richmond might’ve lost the battle, but yellow-and-black army may be about to win the war in avoiding the dreaded rebuild, becoming the latest side to defy the usual convention.
The Tigers are well and truly in the midst of a ‘rebuild on the run’, with Tim Taranto set to join the club on a seven-year deal worth at least $750,000 per season.
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Smart management of their draft capital and salary cap could also see them add Jacob Hopper to the mix, paving the way for a recharged midfield brigade in 2023.
Richmond will enter next season a genuine premiership threat once more and, like Geelong before them with Jeremy Cameron and other savvy additions, seem set up to avoid the pitfalls of the standard rebuild.
They already have a strong list. While they failed to win a final, they finished the year with the fourth-best percentage in the AFL, and did not lose a game by more than a goal after Round 6.
The new method for clubs in the premiership hunt appears to be combining a slow but steady stream of retirements with the retention of veterans on lower salaries and then bringing in some significant signings on long-term deals that allow for salary cap maneuverability as needed.
Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin have done their bit, re-signing for another year, while cap space has been freed up via the retirements of Josh Caddy, Kane Lambert and Shane Edwards.
It means the Tigers can afford what they’ve offered Taranto while still paying Dustin Martin $1.3 million next season and offer Jacob Hopper what Foxfooty.com.au understands is a bigger offer than that of Geelong – another side in the rebuild on the run mould.
The Tigers are positioned incredibly well not only to accommodate those deals, but also trade for them.
As it stands, the Tigers hold picks 12, 19 and 30 in this year’s draft as well as a first-round pick in next year’s draft.
The Giants will start high in their asking price, wanting two first-round picks in exchange for Taranto.
In addition to that, the Giants will also want a first-round pick for Hopper.
If there’s one thing the Geelong of 2023 has proven, it’s that three first-round picks going out the door doesn’t signal the ultimate all-in gamble many thought it was at the time.
The Cats have eschewed most equalisation conventions, keeping themselves in the premiership window and already having a significant number of younger players ready to take over when the likes of Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins hang up the boots.
It’s unlikely the final trade deals will involve a total of three first-round picks, but in any case by the end of it they’ll have at least one more walk-up starter in the midfield, which has looked thin at times and has been left undermanned when Dion Prestia goes down hurt.
Whether it be a fringe player like ruckman Ivan Soldo heading across, or some negotiating done over the breakdown of Hopper’s salary next season, one suspects Richmond will hold at least one first-round pick in this year’s or next year’s draft.
Whatever new talent comes in will join an already impressive young brigade headlined by Josh Gibcus and Noah Cumberland.
The Tigers took three players inside the top 30 of last year’s draft, led by Gibcus, with Tyler Sonsie (pick 28) also playing in the elimination final, and Judson Clarke (pick 30) featuring at times through the season.
It’s a positive sign for the rejuvenation of Damien Hardwick’s side that they had six finals debutants against Brisbane – Gibcus, Cumberland, Sonsie, Ben Miller, Maurice Rioli and Jack Ross – despite all of their recent appearances in September.
Taranto and Hopper, 24 and 25 respectively, will add to the mid-aged bracket of the Tigers and provide the grunt, while the likes of Cotchin and Riewoldt continuing could prove the perfect stopgap while the younger Tigers develop.
Richmond’s premiership dynasty may’ve ended in 2020, but savvy list management means the next dynasty could be closer than we think.
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