“There is a world”: How Richmond could end up with massive 2024 draft haul

There is a world where Richmond could acquire five further selections in the top 20 of this year’s National Draft.

It is a hypothetical at this stage, but that is the scenario Tom Morris floated when following up on his report of Daniel Rioli’s apparent desire to leave the Tigers and join Gold Coast.

On Channel 9 on Wednesday night, Morris said: “Rioli would like to get to the Gold Coast Suns.”

“His preference at this stage is to play for the Suns in 2025 where he would reunite with Damien Hardwick.

“The stumbling block for Rioli and the Suns is Richmond who have him signed for another three years and could shut the trade down immediately.”

Three-time premiership Tiger Rioli, 27, is contracted until 2027 so the Suns would have to pay up if they wanted to prise him out of Punt Road.

Morris suggested that the Suns may have to offer a couple of high draft picks to land him, provided the Tigers are open to a trade of course.

Additionally, the contracted Shai Bolton is attracting interest from Fremantle and would also net multiple draft picks if Richmond wanted to trade him while the possible exit of Liam Baker, who is yet to re-sign with the club, would have the Tigers armed for the 2024 draft.

Morris explained the situation on SEN Breakfast on Thursday morning.

“We know the Gold Coast Suns like him,” Morris said of Rioli.

“What I said on Nine News last night, and I’ll say again today, is that he likes the Gold Coast Suns. He likes the idea of playing for Damien Hardwick.

“But there’s no trade request yet, clearly because the season is still going. He’s not going to request a trade if he doesn’t think the Tigers are going to get a deal done. If the Tigers say no then that’s the end of the conversation.

“If Richmond are rebuilding and they decide to go with an all-out rebuild of draft picks and young players and Daniel Rioli does want to leave then they could ask for a couple of Gold Coast’s first-round picks.

“Gold Coast have picks 6, 11 and 20 at the moment. Is Rioli worth 11 and 20, for a contracted player in his mid-20s?

“Fremantle is the other team with a lot of top picks and Shai Bolton wants to get there. Xander McGuire reported that a couple of months ago. Freo have picks 7, 12 and 16.

“So there is a world where Richmond gain four first-round draft picks for those two players if they want to do those deals.

“Then you’ve got Liam Baker who might want to go to Perth. Could you get a draft pick or two for him?

“The Tigers could have a draft haul like the Giants in their first year. If they want to accelerate the rebuild then get five in the top 20 and see what you can do.”

As it stands, bottom-placed Richmond already holds Pick 1 in this year’s draft as well as 21, 36 and 39, with a handful more beyond 40.

The Suns right now have 6, 11, 20 and 26, while the Dockers have 7, 12, 16 and 25.