So my question to all PRE'nders, in this politically correct world we live in, do we have to accept last place with grace, gentility, and decorum viewing it as a motivating opportunity for personal and organisational growth. Or can we instead collectively act like an Irish Navvy after a week-long bender and be raucous, profane and looking to give anyone who even looks at us twice a hiding they'll never forget. The answer is obvious isn't it. So with television being an overwhelmingly important aspect in raising AFL's sporting profile, perhaps it is time for RFC to tastefully introduce a little WWF theatre into this year's AFL Draft which is otherwise widely viewed by non-AFL fanatics as an incredibly tedious, televisual event. So it's off to the draft...
"It appears the Richmond Football club have taken the unusual step of allowing two long-term celebrity supporters for the club, in David Collins and Shane Dundas of the Umbilical Brothers fame, seats at their club selection table for tonight's 2024 National AFL Draft. And following that lengthy introduction by AFL CEO and Galactic President, Andrew Dillon it is indeed over to the Richmond Football Club for their selection of the No. 1. pick of this year's National Draft. And they seem to have taken no time at all in what is obviously a well-planned selection. Over to Richmond's new National Recruitment Manager, Chris Toce to announce his first draft selection for RFC".
"The Richmond Football Club's first selection in the 2024 AFL Draft is... Player Number 263749, Levi Ashcroft of the Sandringham Dragons"
"This is quite a surprise, and it is now all eyes on the Brisbane Football Club to see if they will match Richmond for the nominated Brisbane Father/Son Selection and provide pick selections to the value of 2,400 points". "What is this? Whilst Brisbane are considering their selection options it appears the Umbilical Brothers have left Richmond's selection table and moved towards the Brisbane recruitment team table while performing a modern interpretive dance."
"Wooden spooners Richmond are giving the AFL Premiers the finger, is what they are doing Ed."
"Chris Fagan and Brisbane have taken this in their collective stride and have indicated that they will match the selection. Chris Toce again appears to be ready to make his selection".
"Richmond Football Club as the second selection in the AFL National Draft, selects Player Number 174998, Leo Lombard of the Suns Football Academy".
"And the Umbilical Brothers are moving towards the Gold Cost Suns recruitment team and in particular seem to be gesticulating graphically towards Dimma Hardwick's seat at the table".
"Ed..., Dimma doesn't seem to be taking this as well as Chris Fagan. He looks pissed!"
"Yes its a genuine RFC farewell salutation to their ex-Coach who left RFC at the end of Round 10 in the 2023 season. Seems that not everyone at RFC has forgotten you Dimma".
"Gold Coast will have to stump up enough picks to cover a whopping 2,013 points if they wish to retain their well-favoured academy prospect."
But this is a fun-game that everyone can play. If we assume we have Gold Coast's current Pick 6 (Rioli), and Fremantle's Pick 10 (Bolton) and arguably 11, not to mention Hawthorn's pick 14 (Baker) find their way to us during the trade period then if we want to be free-wheeling sods - is there any father-son or academy prospect we need to miss. Now the rules of this game are simple. We want to absolutely maximise the 20% discount and point pain for other clubs, without being left holding the pining player. So if the player is likely to go (arguably), at that point in the draft anyway then we haven't really had much fun.
Feel free to offer your real proposed draft selection after your *smile* stirring selection(s). Current draft selections noting the trades above and as at 06/10/2024 would leave Richmond with picks: 1, 6, 10, 11, 14, 24. We have more than half a chance of also grabbing Brisbane's pick 20 of course in exchange for our later picks so that they can match our first draft pick
- and if that isn't a deal we could "ensure", I don't know what is. Enjoy...
"It appears the Richmond Football club have taken the unusual step of allowing two long-term celebrity supporters for the club, in David Collins and Shane Dundas of the Umbilical Brothers fame, seats at their club selection table for tonight's 2024 National AFL Draft. And following that lengthy introduction by AFL CEO and Galactic President, Andrew Dillon it is indeed over to the Richmond Football Club for their selection of the No. 1. pick of this year's National Draft. And they seem to have taken no time at all in what is obviously a well-planned selection. Over to Richmond's new National Recruitment Manager, Chris Toce to announce his first draft selection for RFC".
"The Richmond Football Club's first selection in the 2024 AFL Draft is... Player Number 263749, Levi Ashcroft of the Sandringham Dragons"
"This is quite a surprise, and it is now all eyes on the Brisbane Football Club to see if they will match Richmond for the nominated Brisbane Father/Son Selection and provide pick selections to the value of 2,400 points". "What is this? Whilst Brisbane are considering their selection options it appears the Umbilical Brothers have left Richmond's selection table and moved towards the Brisbane recruitment team table while performing a modern interpretive dance."
"Wooden spooners Richmond are giving the AFL Premiers the finger, is what they are doing Ed."
"Chris Fagan and Brisbane have taken this in their collective stride and have indicated that they will match the selection. Chris Toce again appears to be ready to make his selection".
"Richmond Football Club as the second selection in the AFL National Draft, selects Player Number 174998, Leo Lombard of the Suns Football Academy".
"And the Umbilical Brothers are moving towards the Gold Cost Suns recruitment team and in particular seem to be gesticulating graphically towards Dimma Hardwick's seat at the table".
"Ed..., Dimma doesn't seem to be taking this as well as Chris Fagan. He looks pissed!"
"Yes its a genuine RFC farewell salutation to their ex-Coach who left RFC at the end of Round 10 in the 2023 season. Seems that not everyone at RFC has forgotten you Dimma".
"Gold Coast will have to stump up enough picks to cover a whopping 2,013 points if they wish to retain their well-favoured academy prospect."
But this is a fun-game that everyone can play. If we assume we have Gold Coast's current Pick 6 (Rioli), and Fremantle's Pick 10 (Bolton) and arguably 11, not to mention Hawthorn's pick 14 (Baker) find their way to us during the trade period then if we want to be free-wheeling sods - is there any father-son or academy prospect we need to miss. Now the rules of this game are simple. We want to absolutely maximise the 20% discount and point pain for other clubs, without being left holding the pining player. So if the player is likely to go (arguably), at that point in the draft anyway then we haven't really had much fun.
Feel free to offer your real proposed draft selection after your *smile* stirring selection(s). Current draft selections noting the trades above and as at 06/10/2024 would leave Richmond with picks: 1, 6, 10, 11, 14, 24. We have more than half a chance of also grabbing Brisbane's pick 20 of course in exchange for our later picks so that they can match our first draft pick
- and if that isn't a deal we could "ensure", I don't know what is. Enjoy...
