Josh Gibcus could be a draft “steal” for Richmond, according to David King.
The Tigers selected the GWV Rebels and Vic Country product with pick 9 on the first night of the AFL Draft on Wednesday.
While most phantom drafts had Gibcus going inside the top 10, King feels he is great value at 9 given his attributes as a high-marking intercept defender.
The two-time North Melbourne premiership player had the draft’s standout key backman going much higher and believes the Tigers could have a “special” player on their hands.
“We did a little exercise where we had to rank them ourselves,” King said on SEN Breakfast.
“I’ve crammed, I don’t see these kids during the year, but then watch all the vision that’s available to try and build a profile of what they look like and what their attributes are.
“I had him at four. I had him behind (Jason) Horne-Francis, (Nick) Daicos and Sam Darcy.”
Co-host Sam Edmund chimed in: “You said he had a highlights reel like Peter Knights!”
King added: “He’s a classic aerialist in terms of the way he flies for intercept marks.
“He starts next to his man, but then he goes for the football. That’s what you want.
“It’s very difficult to get young players to think like that. When they do, and they’ve got the capabilities in the air to match, you end up with a pretty special player.
“I said it was a steal last night at pick nine. I think it’s almost the pick of the top 10 at that value.”
Gibcus joins the Tigers at a time where the club has lost David Astbury to retirement and has reigning Jack Dyer Medallist Dylan Grimes now entering his twilight years.
He arrives at the club alongside former Kangaroos defender Robbie Tarrant ahead of the 2022 season.
The 196cm Gibcus, who developed his game at St Patricks College in Ballarat, was the number one intercept player in the NAB League in 2021.