3 minute read

Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper will help guide a big crop of draftees at rebuilding Richmond - a much different scenario to when they arrived two years ago.

Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper could be forgiven if their heads were spinning.

When the GWS midfielders were traded to Richmond on long-term AFL deals two years ago, the Tigers were a vastly different club.

Damien Hardwick was still coach, their season had ended with a narrow elimination final loss to Brisbane and the arrival of the Giants pair was seen as helping them reload for another finals tilt.

Now they're coming off a season when they finished last under first-year coach Adem Yze and are in the midst of a full-scale rebuild.

Premiership players Liam Baker, Shai Bolton, Daniel Rioli and Jack Graham have all left for other clubs.

The good news is Richmond have secured a bumper haul of draft picks through the trade period, with a whopping eight first-round selections.

As the trade period ended on Wednesday night, Richmond list boss Blair Hartley said Taranto and Hopper are keen to help the Tigers return to power.

"We've had open conversations. They love Richmond. They're excited about what's next, they couldn't be more excited," Hartley said.

"So they're looking forward to playing a big role, as part of the experience we have currently on our list."

The obvious question is how long it will take Richmond to bring through the youngsters they pick up in the draft and rebuild their team.

Noah Balta has signed a long-term contract extension, but otherwise it's been bleak times at Punt Rd.

"We're a unique industry, that we're drafting players at 18. The college system in America, it's 23," Hartley said.

"I'd like to know what (retired Geelong captain) Joel Selwood had done at 23 - it was a lot.

"We have to take that into account. Patience is required, but we're really excited.

"A lot of people forget about the experience we currently have on our list ... Tom Lynch, Nick Vlastuin, Jayden Short, I could go on forever. It will take time and everyone at the club understands that."

While the Tigers enjoyed a productive trade period, they are also reeling from the death of national recruiting manager Chris Toce.

Hartley was choked with emotion when he sent best wishes to Toce's family. He died on Wednesday morning after battling cancer.