In the lead-up to the 2013 AFL National Draft this Thursday evening (November 21) at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Tony Greenberg selects his best team of Richmond draftees.

Firstly, let me explain the selection criteria . . .

Only those players picked up by Richmond at a National Draft qualified.  So, the now defunct mid-year draft, along with the present-day pre-season and rookie drafts, were not taken into account when selecting this side.

The league’s old father-son rule, also ruled out the (extremely talented) likes of Matthew Richardson and Joel Bowden.

Back then, Richardson and Bowden could be, and were, automatically eligible to join Richmond, as their respective fathers (Alan and Mike) had both played 100 games or more with the Tigers.

Nowadays, there’s a bidding process that applies under the father-son system, which entails a club using a draft pick on the player it wants.

Notwithstanding the selection unavailability of Messrs Richardson and Bowden, I reckon this is still a pretty handy team of Tigers.

The two back pockets – Jason Torney (118 games from 1995-02) and the late Jamie Tape (75 games, 1994-97) – were both under-rated players from South Australia, who provided Richmond with valuable service.

At full-back, is another interstater in West Australian Alex Rance (89 games, 2009-13), who has made impressive progress at the game’s highest level, particularly over the past couple of seasons.

Two other leading current-day Tigers – former captain Chris Newman (233 games, 2002-13) and dual Jack Dyer Medallist Brett Deledio (195 games, 126 goals, 2005-13) – have been named on the half-back flanks, alongside an absolute bargain-basement draft pick for the Club from the late 1990s, Andrew Kellaway (pick 71, 172 games, 1998-06), who also won a Jack Dyer Medal (in 2000).

This year’s Jack Dyer Medal winner, Daniel Jackson (146 games, 2004-13), has secured his spot in the side on a wing, with the versatile, valuable Matthew Rogers (197 games, 163 goals, 1994-04) on the other wing.  ‘Ball magnet’ and 2003 Tiger Best and Fairest winner Mark Coughlan (92 games, 2001-09) is in the centre.

The 1998 Jack Dyer Medallist and 1995 Richmond leading goalkicker Nick Daffy (165 games, 181 goals, 1992-01) occupies a half-forward flank, with the capable, adaptable Shane Edwards (129 games, 79 goals, 2007-13) on the other one.

At centre half-forward is the Tigers’ first pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2008 draft, talented tall, Ty Vickery (75 games, 78 goals, 2009-13).

The other key-forward post, naturally, goes to Jack Riewoldt (134 games, 320 goals, 2007-13), who has won four consecutive Michael Roach Medals (as Richmond’s leading goalkicker in a season) and a couple of Coleman Medals (as the competition’s leading goalkicker in a season) just for good measure.

Runner-up in this year’s Jack Dyer Medal, dynamic youngster Dustin Martin (86 games, 90 goals, 2010-13) fills one forward pocket, with big Brad Ottens (129 games, 152 goals, 1998-04) in the other one, and providing solid ruck back-up.

First ruckman is the Club’s now CEO Brendon Gale (244 games, 209 goals, 1990-01), a tireless, long-serving performer for the Tigers.

The team’s ruck-rover, and captain, is four-time Jack Dyer Medallist and recent Richmond Hall of Fame inductee Wayne Campbell (297 games, 172 goals, 1991-05)

Current Tiger skipper Trent Cotchin (108 games, 61 goals, 2008-13) is the rover, rounding out a fairly formidable midfield set-up.

On the bench is recently-retired prolific possession-winning midfielder Shane Tuck (173 games, 74 goals, 2004-13), clever small forward pair Chris Naish (143 games, 212 goals, 1990-97) and Andrew Krakouer (102 games, 102 goals, 2002-07), plus hard-working, disciplined small defender Mark Chaffey (166 games, 1997-06).

I gave a fair bit of thought to including modern-day rising stars Reece Conca, Brandon Ellis and Nick Vlastuin somewhere in the line-up, but felt it was just a little too soon for them.

There’s no doubt in my mind that if I’m selecting such a side in two or three years’ time, this talented trio will all make the cut.

The Tigers’ Team of top draftees

B:  Torney, Rance, Tape

HB:  Newman, A. Kellaway, Deledio

C:  Jackson, Coughlan, Rogers

HF:  Daffy, Vickery, S. Edwards

F:  Martin, Riewoldt, Ottens

R:  B. Gale, Campbell, Cotchin

IC:  Tuck, Naish, Krakouer, Chaffey