Nathan Wright - Without beating around the bush too much, Nathan Wright is my type of footballer and I would welcome him with open arms if he landed at Richmond. He's your classical tough and uncompromising player who hates to lose a contest and he's got an attacking flare which at times is reminiscent of a raging bull. He's got all the attributes that should see him succeed at the highest level - strong marking, a big tank, impressive agility and a sound work ethic. That he also comes from a Tiger supporting family makes Wright an even more desirable commodity, I'm certainly a sucker for a slice of sentimentality, and very few things give me greater pleasure than seeing a diehard Tiger pull on the jumper for the first time.
Having listed many of Wright's positive traits there must be a hitch, right? Well there is of sorts but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a deal breaker. I think if there's one thing that I learnt last season from our original kamikaze kid, it's that perceived imperfections can recede into the background if one chooses to play to their strengths. I'm talking of course about Steven Morris and his alleged kicking deficiencies. Now one could never label Morris as the Rolls Royce of punting, at times he can look a little ungainly, but the bottom line is he makes the correct decisions more often than not. This is pretty much where Wright stands, his action isn't poetry in motion, but nor is he a turnover merchant. If the odds are stacked against him with any available kicking options, he'll handball, and if that isn't on, he'll kick to a genuine 50/50 contest. In short, he plays well within his limitations and plays the percentages to the best of his ability. He's what I consider to be a very coachable lad and someone who could slot into the side with relative ease.
So if we're going to dream a little and begin formulating our Christmas wishlist, Wright will be selected by Richmond at either pick 32 or 34. I'll also make the prediction that he'll be playing seniors next year and will become a bit of a fan favourite. If he's available, I'd say FJ will be all over him, the only dilemma would be if Nick Graham was also onboard, that would be a tough choice indeed.