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TALK about shuffling the deck. Over the trade period, Richmond went on a mission.

After a disappointing year finishing 13th on the ladder, something needed to be done, and the recruiters went into overdrive in an effort to strengthen their midfield.

The Tigers bought in some huge names and some very Fantasy relevant players to accompany their superstars.

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Even though Dustin Martin (MID, $646,000) has lost forward status, he’s still a premium player of the competition who may even improve on his 2016 average of 107.

In his last four games of the year, he averaged 34 possessions. However, Richmond’s forward line coach Justin Leppitsch has recently said that Martin will spend more time forward in 2017 due to their strengthened midfield.

Does this mean that Martin might claim back his forward status during the year? This is a huge possibility and something to be watching with interest.

Will former Swan Toby Nankervis (RUC/FWD, $365,000) take over as the Tigers' No.1 ruckman?

He was starved of games at the Swans and now finds himself at a club with way more opportunities. Nankervis received a 12 per cent discount on his average of 68.7 and if he gets the nod as the main ruckman, then he’ll be locked into my classic side, next to Melbourne’s Max Gawn.

After averaging 86, Josh Caddy (FWD/MID, $517,000) certainly has the potential to be placed as a top-ten forward by the end of the year. He averaged 90 in 2015, but due to the quality of Geelong’s midfield, he found himself playing up forward more often than he would have liked.

He showed his class for a month last year where he averaged 25 disposals, five tackles for 105 points from round six to nine. As a forward, Caddy’s Fantasy prospects are encouraging, so let’s just hope that Richmond give him the midfield time he deserves and he repays them with some big numbers.

With many players making the move to Punt Road this year, Dion Prestia (MID, $561,000) headlines the list.

Injuries have slowed Prestia down over the last two years and although we have seen glimpses of his Fantasy potential, like the 149 he had in round 11 against the Swans, he is still yet to raise his Fantasy game to the heights he is capable of.

If you need speed and dash in your Fantasy team, then Shai Bolton (FWD/MID, $194,000) is your man.

Bolton is reasonably priced but it’s his dual position status that caught my eye. With so many guns coming into the Tigers, games will be hard to come by. However, if the planets align, we might see this excitement machine named in the opening round.

 
Forgotten? Yes. A warrior? Not so much.

However, Brandon Ellis (MID, $540,000) does need to be mentioned.

Firstly, he’s under-priced based on his 2015 average of 103. Ellis managed to average just 89 in 2016 and will certainly improve next season.

Secondly, he will be a draft sleeper. Ellis clearly has the ability to average 100+, and therefore needs to be moved up your draft ranking order.

It hurts me to say it, but Ivan Maric (RUC, $392,000) must be crossed off your list. With Nankervis coming in, surely big Ivan’s days are numbered.

He only managed three games last year and he’ll head into a new season at the age of 30. 

We’ll never forget his 2012 season when he averaged 98 to be the best ruckman in the game, but that was a long time ago.