Richmond look set to receive a first-round compensation pick for the departing Brandon Ellis according to Mitch Cleary.
The dual premiership Tiger yesterday announced his intention to leave the premiers for the Gold Coast Suns after being tabled an offer as a free agent.
Cleary believes the Tigers are likely to be rewarded a similar pick to that of what Geelong received for Steven Motlop and what Brisbane received for Tom Rockliff.
“In line with what Steven Motlop and Tom Rockliff both went on when they joined the Power, their respective clubs got end of first round picks,” Cleary said on Telstra AFL Trade Radio.
“In line with those, Brandon Ellis should be worth a first-round pick.
“If you can believe this, Richmond could enter the draft with two top 20 picks fresh off another flag. It’s hard to believe.”
Ellis' manager Marty Pask said the level of compensation for Richmond would depend on what the Tigers bring in during the free agency period after Ellis departs.
"If a player like Brandon would walk out and go as a free agent and they (Richmond) don't do anything in that free agnecy period and acquire someone else then it's definitely going to be something around the second-round, it could even sneak into the first-round," Pask said on SEN Breakfast this morning.
Ellis was drafted with Pick 15 in the 2011 AFL Draft and has played 176 games for the Tigers.
It is expected the Suns will officially make their offer when the free agency period commences tomorrow.