This week Richmond will enter the AFL national draft with an unprecedented eight selections in the top 30, reviving memories of the Tigers 20 years ago when they went in with five in the top 20.
Storeyed recruiter Greg Miller, someone who famously whisked a pair of southern New South Wales teenagers in Wayne Carey and John Longmire out of Sydney’s clutches, relived that draft and others this week. There was no 파워볼 money at Richmond back then. We actually had a good recruiter in Greg Beck who they thought couldn’t be afforded. Fortunately the club later appointed Francis Jackson who has been outstanding.
Recruiting is 50 per cent of the story, with the development and culture of the club being a huge part in making the player. Many people, and journalists in particular, only look at the end success of each choice and don’t take other factors into account.
Deledio was a standout. My next choice was Jarryd Roughead who to me was clearly ahead of “Buddy” Franklin, but Hawthorn took him at two so I took Richard Tambling at four. When you take an Indigenous boy from the Northern Territory your club structure has to be right as well. Meyer (26 games) and Polo (77) were two players who could have done better with the right structures.