Richmond’s long-anticipated monstrous 2024 AFL Draft haul has at last been confirmed, with trades completed for star pair Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton.
Following Liam Baker’s departure to West Coast, Bolton and Rioli, who requested trades to Fremantle and Gold Coast respectively, joined their new homes on the final day of the AFL Trade Period.
Both deals earned the Tigers a swathe of first-round draft picks – they received picks 10, 11 and 18 from Fremantle in exchange for Bolton, a future third-rounder and the pick 14 they received as part of Baker’s trade to the Eagles.
Meanwhile, Rioli’s deal was arguably even better, with the Tigers landing picks 6 and 23 in exchange for the reigning Jack Dyer Medallist, while also handing over a series of late picks to allow the Suns to stockpile draft points in order to match a bid for Academy gun Leo Lombard.
The result leaves the Tigers shorn of a trio multiple-premiership heroes and three of their top six best and fairest placers in 2024, plus another premiership player in Jack Graham; but with a substantial haul of high picks in what has been touted as the strongest draft crop in years.
In addition to the pick 1 they received after winning the wooden spoon following just two wins in 2024, the Tigers now have picks 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23 and 24 – enough to radically replenish their playing stocks with an eye to building another dynasty similar to the one enjoyed with three premierships between 2017 and 2020.
Draft guru and afl.com.au reporter Callum Twomey compared the haul favourably to that granted to Gold Coast and GWS by the AFL during their formative years in the competition.
Bolton and Rioli were under contract at the Tigers until 2028 and 2027 respectively, so the trades fully commit the Tigers to a long-term rebuild – and potentially an ugly 2025 season with an even younger list than in 2024.
“We completely understand Shai’s reasons for requesting a trade to Fremantle, but importantly needed to find a suitable trade that was of benefit to Richmond,” Tigers football general manager Blair Hartley said of Bolton’s trade in a statement.
“We are delighted to have significantly improved our Draft hand ahead of next month’s Draft.”
According to the Herald Sun, the Tigers might not be done yet, either, with the club reportedly keen on a deal with North Melbourne that would see them trade two of their first-round pick haul to the Kangaroos in exchange for pick 2.
However, not all Tigers fans were quite so optimistic about the trades, with Herald Sun writer Al Paton noting that the loss of Baker, Bolton and Rioli in one fell swoop was a bitter blow regardless of the return.
“Richmond with one of the best draft hands of all time,” Paton wrote on X.
“All they had to do was lose their most talented player, their B&F winner, a crazy brave fan favourite who can play anywhere (very well), and an elite gut runner.
“And finish last.
“Why isn’t everyone doing it!”
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