With the 2025 AFL draft just around the corner, Richmond’s National Recruiting Manager, Rhy Gieschen, joined Talking Tigers to discuss the Club's approach to the player acquisition period.

Richmond currently holds picks two and three in the draft, with Gieschen explaining how having such a strong hand of two high picks opens up plenty of options for the Tigers.

“I think everything is on the table. When you have an early pick, it really opens up all your options,” Gieschen said.

"Our role as a recruiting team is to assess the whole pool, and you don’t want to rest on your laurels and that you are just picking up the top end, because you never know what will happen come trade time.

“We just assess the entire pool and do our ratings, and then pending on what our ratings look like and what clubs offer, there is always possibilities.”

15:51

Rhy Gieschen on Talking Tigers

Rhy Gieschen joins Talking Tigers to chat about last year's draft class and the efforts of the recruitment team that go into finding talent through the various leagues across Australia.

After the Club picked up eight draftees last year, Gieschen explained how exciting it is to have the opportunity to bring more talented prospects into the Swinburne Centre.

“It’s exciting to have pick two and three,” Gieschen said.

“You feel blessed to go and watch the best players and go to their houses and know that you are a strong chance to get those players.

“It has been a fun year, and I look forward to whoever it is that we end up picking and bringing them in and adding to our talent mix.”

09:05

Member Update: John O'Rourke

Richmond President John O'Rourke sits down with Richmond Media for a Club update.

Reflecting on last season's impressive draft crop, Gieschen highlighted the growth of the young key forwards and how connected the group is.

“(In the draft interview process) we asked Simsy (Tom Sims) who his favourite forward was to play with, and he said Harry (Armstrong), and then Harry said Simsy,” Gieschen said.

“They are a little bit different. Simsy is more contest, long down the line, high number in the pack and Harry is a bit more mobile, can get up on the lead, and then you throw Jonty (Faull) into that mix, and I think everyone loves playing with Jont.

“We looked at that and thought the three of them could work together long term, and then for them to be mentored by Lynchy (Tom Lynch), along with our coaches and forward group, we think that is going to set them up for success.”