In the lead-up to next week’s 2015 AFL National Draft, Tony Greenberg reflects on what has turned out to be Richmond’s most productive draft year throughout the three-decade history of the competition’s talent acquisition system.
Richmond had five picks in the 2006 National Draft, and chose particularly wisely with its first two selections – star forward Jack Riewoldt (No. 13 overall) and talented playmaker Shane Edwards (No. 26 overall).
Riewoldt has gone on to win a Jack Dyer Medal, two Coleman Medals, six Michael Roach Medals (as the Club’s leading goalkicker in a season) and gain All-Australian selection on two occasions (most recently this year).
AUDIO: Jack Riewoldt on SEN, November 19th
He has kicked 435 goals in his 180 games of league football and is rightfully regarded as one of the competition’s elite forwards.
Edwards has become a pivotal member of Richmond’s line-up due to his pace and creative play, rotating through the midfield and high half-forward role.
He has kicked 114 goals in 168 senior appearances and added plenty of zip to the Tigers’ team, particularly over the past couple of years, when he’s taken his game to an impressively high level.
The three other players Richmond selected in that 2006 National Draft were Daniel Connors (pick 58 overall), who went on to play 29 games, Carl Peterson, who didn’t manage a senior appearance for the Club, but subsequently had a brief 17-game career with Hawthorn, and Andrew Collins, 25 games.
At the end of the 2010 season, Collins was traded to Carlton for hard-running midfielder Shaun Grigg in a deal that’s worked out strongly in the Tigers’ favor.
Collins managed only six games for the Blues before being delisted, while Grigg has played 104 games with Richmond, kicked 58 goals, and been a valuable team member throughout.
Grigg had been Carlton’s second selection (No. 19 overall) in that ’06 National Draft, with another Blue-turned-Tiger two picks ahead of him – ruckman Shaun Hampson.
Although Hampson played just 15 senior games for Richmond in two seasons, following his 43-game career at Carlton, the Tigers hold high hopes that he can still have an impact next year and beyond.
There is one other current-day Richmond player, and two former Tigers, who also were 2006 National Draft selections . . .
Bachar Houli was taken at pick 42 overall by Essendon and he played 26 games for the Bombers before joining Richmond, where he’s added a further 111 games and developed into one of the best rebounding defenders in the competition.
Courageous utility player Ricky Petterd, who announced his retirement from AFL football at the end of the 2015 season, was selected by Melbourne at pick 30 overall. Petterd played 54 games and kicked 55 goals for the Demons, before landing at Tigerland. He ended up playing 30 games for the Tigers and was a handy contributor in a variety of on-field roles until injuries intervened to cut short his league career.
And, sharpshooter Aaron Edwards, taken by North Melbourne at pick 82 in the 2006 National Draft, subsequently found his way to Richmond, where he played 12 senior games and booted 15 goals during a two-year stint with the Club.
Shane Edwards and Jack Riewoldt celebrate what was thought to be a goal against Fremantle in Round 10, 2015
