Former Collingwood recruiter Matt Rendell has run his eye over how Richmond built their premiership forward line, saying a lot of the pieces fell into place for them.
Looking at their small forwards, the veteran recruiter believes the Tigers got a bit lucky, but also took a punt on some players who they have then developed well.
“Richmond’s (forward line) was (built) by accident, wasn’t it?” Rendell told AFL Trade Radio.
“In 2017 they had Jack Riewoldt and a bunch of small fellas in the forward line and they’re just rushing it in there and hoping Jack can compete, the ball hits the ground and the little fellas go to work, but they didn’t know how good they were.
“Jason Castagna was pick 29 in the rookie draft and had the worst kick in the whole draft, they pick up obviously Daniel Rioli at pick 15, he played one game for the year on the MCG before the Grand Final and killed it, Kane Lambert through the VFL and Shai Bolton at pick 29 and we were pick 30 at Collingwood and we were desperate to get him and god they picked him before us.
“So they sort of fluked that small forward line and they won a flag with it.
“I used to see (Richmond assistant coach) Justin Leppitsch on the train sometimes going to work, he used to say to me ‘don’t get any more key forwards, I just want the little fellas in the forward line’.
“Liam Baker was more an on-baller/forward and he’s ended up being a defender. Jayden Short was a winger/forward and has ended up in defence. They’ve got Jack Higgins who can’t get a game and is probably going to go out.
“So, they’ve picked a few in the last few years to suit the way they play. There is a bit in that, but you’ve got to love what they’ve been able to do.”
Richmond’s speed and chaos ball movement has become a key part of their premiership success and would not have been possible without their depth of speedy forward options.
The Pies would take Sam McLarty at pick 30 after missing out on Bolton.