Picks: 8, 26, 58, 70
Departures:
Greg Tivendale, Chris Hyde, Danny Meyer, Travis Casserly, David Gourdis (rookie)
Where’s the club at?
The Tigers are in the exciting/uncomfortable position of being mid-table and on the rise, and thus having to deal with a strange feeling – expectation. Along with Carlton, they're expected to be 2009's big improvers, having risen from 16th to ninth this year. With a solid defence, quick midfield and developing forward line, the Tigers simply must make the finals this year. If they do, it will be for just the third time in a quarter of a century, although they have finished ninth four times in the last decade.
Needs:
The Tigers need experience – unlikely to be procured through the draft – and depth, so expect to see them take the best players available. They could do with a ruckman to back up the big-hearted Troy Simmonds, while the move of Matthew Richardson to a wing means they could use a key forward or two to work with Jack Riewoldt. The back six is pretty settled, but another key defender or two can never hurt. No different to a lot of clubs around the middle of the table, really.
Recent drafts:
Poor ladder position means good draft picks, and the Tigers have loaded up in recent times. Trent Cotchin and Alex Rance were taken in 2007, while 2006 produced Matt White, Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards and Daniel Connors. The Tigers also traded to get Graham Polak, Mitch Morton and Jordan McMahon.
Chance of taking recycled players:
Unlikely. The Tigers showed faith in their young list in 2008 and it paid off. Expect them to build future depth rather than falling into the trap of topping up while outside the eight. Kent Kingsley in 2007, and Trent Knobel and Patrick Bowden in 2005 will be recent reminders of the dangers, although McMahon has been good since his arrival last year.
What coach Terry Wallace says:
"Best player or needs? I'm best player, but you have to have a strategy for both. You never let Ian Stewart go past to try to pick up Whale Roberts, no offence to Whale. Trying to get the ruckman and you let a champion go past, you have to be careful of that. All of us still have to have a calculation of where our list is at, and what we still need to get a better list."
We say:
Whoever the Tigers get with pick eight should be stellar. The smart money is pointing to under-18 All-Australian Hamish Hartlett from Port Adelaide, brother of Carlton's Adam. But if he's gone, the Tigers could go for Vic Metro ruckman Tyrone Vickery if he has not already been snapped up. The whisper is that Port Adelaide is also trying to decide between the same pair, with the Tigers keen to scoop up whoever the Power doesn't take.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
