Richmond assistant coach Adam Kingsley has commented on the club’s trade and draft prospects this year.
The Tigers have already lost Mabior Chol to the Gold Coast Suns as an unrestricted free agent while Callum Coleman-Jones is expected to join North Melbourne once a deal can be sorted.
Kingsley admits it is a “disappointing” situation losing a pair of promising forward-rucks, but can understand the decisions both players have made.
“Losing those guys does hurt. We wanted to keep those guys, they’re both quality players,” he said on SEN Mornings.
“They’re really both around opportunity. ‘Marbs’ had that opportunity to move at his free will so he’s chosen what is a great contract for him up at Gold Coast, closer to his family.
“So really pleased for him, but obviously disappointed for us.
“‘CJ’ is a 22-year-old key position player who can play forward and ruck. To be frank, those guys are few and far between. The fact that we’re losing him is disappointing.
“As I understand it he wants a bit more opportunity to play in the ruck and North Melbourne have been able to offer that to him. Given our strength with (Toby) Nankervis and (Ivan) Soldo coming back after a knee injury, we can’t necessarily guarantee that.
“Disappointing, but that’s the power that the players have now. They are able to mix and match and move whenever they feel like it, it feels like.”
Despite the respective exits of the duo, Kingsley is confident that Richmond’s list will be boosted by a potentially lucrative set of picks in the National Draft.
He is expecting recruiting manager Matthew Clarke to have a plan in place to offset the departures.
“We’ve got quite a strong draft hand, I’m sure we’ll bring in a lot of good players,” he added.
“Losing a couple hurts. You look to where we’re losing them, both ‘Marbs’ and ‘CJ’ are ruck-forward or forward rucks. Jack Riewoldt is 32, Tom Lynch is late 20s (28). To lose two key position players out of your forwards group stresses that a little bit.
“So I’m not sure if that’s an area that Matty Clarke will target in the draft, a couple of key position forwards.
“Certainly losing a couple upsets your balance a little bit.”
The Tigers currently hold picks 7, 15, 26, 28, 40 and 44 in next month’s National Draft.