Why Russell doesn’t think Tigers should bid on Lions father-son Ashcroft at Pick 1

Dwayne Russell doesn’t think Richmond should bid on Brisbane father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft at Pick 1 in this year’s draft.

While Ashcroft is rated as a potential No. 1 pick and many are calling on the Tigers to bid on him at the top of the draft to make the reigning premiers pay full price in draft points to select him, Russell disagrees.

Russell instead thinks that the Tigers should pick a player who gets the pick No. 1 honour as their first selection would slide to No. 2 if they bid on Ashcroft.

“I think whoever Richmond want at pick one, they should take at pick one,” Russell told SEN Afternoons.

“If it's not Levi Ashcroft, don't pick him just to make the Lions pay overs.

“I reckon you give the kid you think is pick one the honour of being picked at one and the honour of being known as pick one forever.”

The only player to be bid on at Pick 1 previously was Jamarra Ugle-Hagan by the Adelaide Crows in the 2020 Draft.

Given that Ugle-Hagan was a Bulldogs Next Generation Academy product, the Dogs matched the bid pushing Adelaide’s first selection to No. 2 where they took Riley Thilthorpe.

Russell thinks that was a mistake and he urged Richmond not to follow in the Crows’ footsteps.

“The Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Riley Thilthorpe situation I think was a mistake by Adelaide,” Russell said.

“They should have made Thilthorpe believe he was their guy, their number one in that draft and they cost him money as well, but they also cost him I think the honour of being pick one and the thought that, ‘I'm Adelaide's number one man in this draft’.

“But no, they told the world that they'd prefer Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

“Richmond should honour the prestige of pick one by telling the kid they take, ‘Hey, you're the player we believe is the best in this draft’.

“Let North Melbourne at pick two or the West Coast at pick three play the AFL’s game of, ‘Hey, you better pick Levi Ashcroft to make Brisbane pay full price for him’.

“Let the other teams play that game. I reckon pick one deserves to be pick one.”

The first round of the 2024 AFL Draft will take place on Wednesday, November 20 at Marvel Stadium.