The biggest problem Richmond face with draft picks, is that the Gold Coast are going to come in and then Western Sydney. That means the draft picks for 2010, 2011 and 2012 are pretty much firmly these new teams way. If Richmond finishes well down the ladder instead of getting a priority or first, second, third draft pick, it may well be 8th or 9th in the first round, followed by mid 2nd round, low 3rd, low 4th and 5th round draft selections.
The Tigers will have to manage their current playing list extremely well. Getting rid of a few older players due to retirement say Bowden, Brown, Johnson and Simmonds, leaves the remaining playing list relatively young. I'd want to keep Bowden on the list for at least 2010, likewise Richardson, who can continue to play the game until he's possibly 37, another 3 years, if his body hold's up. Cousin's likewise, at least 2010 and ideally 2011. With Simmonds possibly gone, that means all the rucking will be done by very inexperienced players, but then sometimes you have to bite the bullet and let the younger players in to find out what's it all about, however the club may give Simmonds another contract (hopefully only for a year but with our mob anythings likely).
Defence I'm not so worried about, its getting the midfielders to develop and really tackle their opposite numbers. Likewise the forward line if both *smile* and Hughes leave, is left rather short in terms of height and places one hell of a lot of pressure (unfairly in my book) on young Riewoldt. *smile* has got one more contracted year, Hughes (not sure), but both need to be kicked up their collective arses and told to get on with it. The coaching staff should be riding both these players almost into the ground to get every ounce of performance on game day from both of them, nothing less, and the forward line is pretty soft in terms of contested marking power and ability to score from around the 50 metre mark.
Right now, every player on the playing list should have been told by Gary March, that they are playing for their careers not only with Richmond but possibly AFL, as I doubt other clubs would want some of the players even the younger ones we've got on our list.
