Richmond completed a busy off-season of player movements by claiming four picks in the AFL’s Rookie Draft.
Three of those players - Ricky Petterd, Sam Lonergan and Orren Stephenson - have AFL experience, while youngster Cadeyn Williams arrived at Tigerland after being overlooked in the National Draft.
"The philosophy was that we perhaps needed a bit more depth of players that are ready to play, to actually fulfil a role during the year, and three of those boys have had significant experience in the AFL system,” said Richmond Recruiting Manager Francis Jackson.
“We think they can come in and have an impact and play a role for us. With the length of the season and the increased intensity of each game, fatigue is an issue, so having that added depth on our list enables blokes to come in and play their role.
“We've had 11 new players, six are experienced and five are 18-year-olds so we think we've certainly added to our depth and we've got a really good combination."
Pick 7: Ricky Petterd
Jackson says: He's very talented and has unfortunately been a bit hamstrung with injury but we certainly remember back to his good years where he could impact at AFL level and I remember him fondly from his performances as an 18-year-old. Hopefully he can have a bit of luck on the injury stakes.
Pick 22: Sam Lonergan
Jackson says: From the mid-2000s Sam has been at Essendon and he's a player who we think is a really strong and a tough competitor who can play an inside mid role and actually is ready to go. He provides us with a bit more depth in the midfield.
Pick 36: Orren Stephenson
Jackson says: He's obviously a ruckman who played eight games last year for the Cats and coming in as a mature-age player is ready to go as well. He played really good footy for Geelong and previously with North Ballarat so once again it's just adding depth to our list and someone who can actually come in and is ready to go.
Pick 44: Cadeyn Williams
Jackson says: He's an 18-year-old from the Murray Bushrangers who only played four games this year at TAC level because he did his shoulder in round two but played on another two rounds and then had a reconstruction. He hasn't been seen much but he kicked seven goals for the Bushrangers against Geelong in round four, and he's got really good endurance. He's a strong-bodied boy who competes well and we think we might be able to play him in an inside-mid role down the track.