THE WESTERN Bulldogs' top two draft picks are hoping to help the 2016 premiers shore up their defence next season.
The Dogs selected key position prospect Aaron Naughton with pick no.9 and running half-back Ed Richards with pick no.16 at the NAB AFL Draft, and given both areas were in need of a restock, they loom as handy additions.
With club greats Bob Murphy and Matthew Boyd retiring at the end of last season, and Marcus Adams, Zaine Cordy, Fletcher Roberts and Kieran Collins struggling to support Dale Morris and Easton Wood in the back half in 2017 thanks to a mixture of injuries and form, the Bulldogs will benefit form the arrival of two elite youngsters.
Naughton will link up with former WA teammate Tim English, the Dogs' top pick at last year's draft, at the Kennel.
He told AFL.com.au on Saturday that gaining senior experience last season with Peel Thunder, Fremantle's host club in the WAFL, will help him make an impact next year.
"I felt confident in my ability to match it with the bigger bodies in the WAFL, and playing alongside some of the Freo Dockers boys really helped me," he said.
"I've still got a lot of developing to do, but I can't wait to get started.
"It's unreal to be picked by such a successful club, and to be in Melbourne playing footy in the coming years is a great opportunity."
AFL.com.au draft expert Callum Twomey described Richards as having "class, pace and pizzazz off half-back with his ball use and creativity", but the 18-year-old said he doesn't see himself as a replacement for Murphy or Boyd – not straight away, in any case.
"Those two have left some pretty big shoes to fill so I'll just have to wait and see how next year progresses," Richards said.
"Hopefully I can slot in across half-back, and I'll definitely be aiming to crack into the senior side in my first season, but there's so much hard work to do before that happens."
The grandson of Collingwood legend Ron Richards, and the grand-nephew of Hall of Fame Magpie Lou, the dashing redhead laughed off any family concerns that he didn't join the black and whites.
"We're all just stoked that I'm able to stay in Melbourne, and I'm not sure Collingwood were ever really that keen on me anyway," he said.
Read more
• Check out every pick made in the Draft Tracker
• Draft wrap: Lions reveal top pick, Freo's big call
• The verdict: we rate your club's draft haul
• The bolter they didn't see coming
• How did the guru go? Cal Twomey's Phantom Draft
