AFL top-draft pick Sam Lalor has put his hand up for Dustin Martin's famous No.4 jumper and taken early comparisons to the retired Richmond legend in his stride.
The 18-year-old Victorian, an explosive goal-kicking midfielder, was the first of six first-round selections by the Tigers at Docklands Stadium on Wednesday night.
The mammoth draft haul comes as Richmond attempt to bounce back after finishing last in Adem Yze's first season as coach.
Lalor has modelled his game on triple-premiership great Martin and Collingwood gun Jordan De Goey, attracting attention at junior level with his powerful frame and knack of fending off opponents.
"It's pretty hard to play like him, but I suppose some of the things I do on the field are kind of like him," Lalor said of comparisons to Martin.
"He's someone I've watched growing up, so I'd love to play like him.
"For me, I don't look into it too much. I just can't wait to get in there, chip away and work hard."
Martin wore the No.4 jumper in all but the first of his 15 seasons at the top level, before retiring in August as one of the greatest players in AFL history.
Richmond officials are yet to confirm whether they will honour Martin's legendary career by shelving the iconic jumper for a period or hand it to one of their new draftees straight away.
"I'd definitely like it," Lalor said.
"I wear No.4 throughout the year and it's my favourite number, so if I did get it, I'd snatch it up."
Lalor was joined by Josh Smillie (pick seven), Taj Hotton (12), Jonty Faull (14), Luke Trainor (21) and Harry Armstrong (23) in Richmond's first-round haul.
The Tigers traded pick 27 to North Melbourne, who pounced on key forward Matt Whitlock, but also have the first pick — No.28 overall — in Thursday's second round.
Lalor, who missed chunks of the 2024 season through injury and revealed he will be put straight into a rehabilitation program for a few weeks, is happy to share the spotlight with his fellow Tiger cubs.
The Bacchus Marsh junior was drafted from Talent League club Greater Western Victoria Rebels, and shapes as a future Richmond leader after captaining both the Rebels and Vic Country.
"I'm looking forward to being a part of that (group) and hoping lead it as well," Lalor said.
"Richmond having so many picks in the top few will help. Not all the spotlight's on me … I'm sure they'll help me along the way and I'll help them as well."
Lalor was Richmond's first No.1 pick since Brett Deledio in 2004.
AAP
Check out our live blog below for a full-recap of the first round of the AFL Draft as it happened.
And that is all we've got for tonight folks!
Be sure to catch us at the same time and same place tomorrow as we bring you all the picks from the second round and beyond.
As Dean mentioned, there's still several talented players on the draft board, so we could see some trades happen early on tomorrow.
Catch you all then!
Is your club in the market for a tall forward, defender or ruck? Well, you're in luck! Tonight was one for the little fellas, tomorrow is going to be dominated by the key position players.
Jobe Shanahan and Jack Whitlock will be at the top of that list, two key forwards who were expected to find homes tonight. But also expect guys like Tom Sims, Alex Dodson, Noah Mraz, Charlie Nicholls and Kayle Gerreyn to be in demand.
In terms of midfielders, Christian Moraes and Tom Gross are the best remaining in my books with Jack Ough and Kade Herbert not far behind. I really like Angus Clarke as a rebounding defender with heaps of potential. Then you've got some more exciting smalls like Rhys Unwin, Jasper Alger and Will Hayes.
There's something for everyone, basically.
I thought we might have been in for some mayhem tonight, and so it proved. That was most certainly not the first round that many people expected and there are so many talking points to come from it.
Firstly, the Richmond haul. Sam Lalor and Josh Smillie were easy picks. But then to go Taj Hotton and Jonty Faull? Luke Trainor is a solid pick, but then to get Harry Armstrong as the slider? PLUS North Melbourne's first rounder next year? It's far braver than I thought they would be and I really love it.
The North trade will forever be a pivotal moment in the success or failure of this rebuild. It's a huge price to pay for pick 27 and Matt Whitlock. But as I said, it's indicative that the Roos think this is it for their rebuilding period in the draft, and that going all in to complete the midfielder-defender split this year is the way to go. I admire it, but I'm not sure it'll end up the correct play.
The Giants went wonderfully weird as always. Not sure why they didn't trade back if Cody Angove was the target as I doubt many other clubs would have jumped in early, but hey ho. They do things their own way over there, and it generally works out.
Melbourne got two left-footed mids, but did they need a tall? Saints got two defenders, but did they need a mid? Hard to complain about the quality of players they brought in but they were very much best available over needs.
West Coast did well to get pick 45 for nothing and Bo Allan is just about the best result they could have hoped for after their trade period moves. Murphy Reid to Freo is an exciting pick, but the reaction shots of him and his family after the selection will replayed if it doesn't go immediately well.
Crows get Sid Draper, that's a tick. Swans get Jesse Dattoli and Ned Bowman, that's a tick and a risk worth taking. Dogs get Cooper Hynes, big tick. Port gets Joe Berry, another tick. And all the father-son and academy kids found their homes safely.
A big night, all told. Lots of these boys will be playing round one next year too, which makes it extra exciting.
With the first round in the books, we turn our attention to the second round, which will kick things off tomorrow night.
Here's the order of the second round as things currently stand.
28. Richmond
29. Western Bulldogs
30. West Coast
31. Western Bulldogs
32. St Kilda
33. Port Adelaide
34. Fremantle
35. Hawthorn
36. GWS Giants
37. Essendon
38. Port Adelaide
39. Essendon
40. Carlton
And that's where the selections will end for tonight!
An incredible 27 players have found new homes, six of them going to Richmond, who end the night having acquired another first-round pick as well.
A terrific night in the books for the Tigers.
So, off the top, North Melbourne had to overpay massively to get back into this position in the draft and to balance out their drafting tonight. Barring, significant improvement they've probably just given Richmond another top three or four pick next year.
But the Roos needed a defender. They couldn't make it happen with pick two, so they've borrowed some happiness from the future to bring in Matt Whitlock in the here and now. It's bold, it suggests the Roos are sick of rebuilding, and I think it should be applauded.
With the final pick of the first round, the Kangaroos take Matt Whitlock!
It's a little bittersweet for the Whitlock family, with his twin brother Jack still remaining on the draft board. He is expected to be taken tomorrow.
An athletic tall like his brother, Matt Whitlock has played his best footy so far in defence but can use his height and mobility to impact at either end of the ground.
The Tigers have flipped one of their picks!
Richmond trades pick 27 and a 2025 second-round pick to North Melbourne for the Kangaroos' 2025 first-rounder.
All you need to know about Ned Bowman is he takes hangers.
Well, that's not all you need to know. But it's pretty handy! The Swans are that good, that loaded with talent that they can take risks on a cherry-on-top player like Bowman. At his best he is absolutely electric inside 50, both at ground level and in the air. One to watch for sure.
Another bolter to end the first round as the Swans take Ned Bowman!
Bowman is ranked No.89 on the Fox Sports Lab rankings.
A high-flying forward who is capable of the spectacular in the air and is crafty around the goals.
Another boost for the reigning champs, a midfielder who was best on ground in the Coates League grand final. All for effectively nothing.
Marshall probably won't be a walk-up start like Levi, but that's largely due to how good the Lions' midfield already is. He'll get a crack at some point though, and he's such an unflappable character I imagine he'll probably take it with both hands.
Another win from tonight for the Lions as they match Sydney's bid for Sam Marshall at pick 25.
The Lions come away with Ashcroft and Marshall and have another pick (No.57) to use tomorrow as well.
A consistent and reliable midfielder who finds the ball with ease. Moves well through congestion and is a tidy kick of the footy.
The Brisbane Lions will match the bid on academy prospect Sam Marshall here and lose picks 43 and 44.
They receive Marshall and pick 57.
Sorry, did I say Ollie Hannaford was the most GWS selection imaginable? THIS is the most GWS selection available.
They've plucked the bolter out of WA with elite speed, agility and attacking prowess. They love their little whippets at the Giants, and Angove just adds to their batch of excitement machines.
A bit of a selection shocker here, as the Giants take Cody Angove 24th overall.
Fox Footy's lab ranks him at No.58.
A crafty small forward with speed and agility. Undersized but skilful.
The big slider of the night has fallen all the way to pick 23, and the Tigers will be absolutely laughing that he has. Armstrong is the Cadman/Cameron prototype, but obviously has a lot of work to do to hit those standards.
He and Jonty Faull is a very interesting forward combo. Bit of grunt and grace in those two. One more to come for the Tigers tonight.
Richmond continues to bring in the kids, this time it's Harry Armstrong with the No.23 pick!
Dylan Grimes on hand to give Armstrong his jumper.
Armstrong says it is "unbelievable" to be selected by the Tigers, who have now taken two key forwards in the first round.
A mobile tall forward with a raking left foot. Armstrong is clean at ground level and launches into packs for marks. The most well-rounded key forward option in the draft.
It's now very clear that clubs are skewing towards the small guys this year, an interesting reflection on the state of the game.
I like Dattoli. I love that he's genuinely two-footed, I love that he's a tough little wind-up merchant and I love that he is confident in himself. Let him follow Tom Papley around for a year and see what happens.
Jesse Dattoli heading to Sydney with the No.22 pick!
Incredible s
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