Tigers given round-two AFL pick as Graham joins Eagles

Once touted as a potential Richmond captain, Jack Graham will earn the Tigers a second-round AFL draft pick with his move to West Coast.

Graham is the first of several expected player departures from Richmond, with Shai Bolton, Daniel Rioli and Liam Baker all in the trade period mix.

Graham, 26, is going to the Eagles as an unrestricted free agent on a four-year deal and the AFL announced on Tuesday that Richmond would have pick No.42 as compensation.

Last week, the league raised eyebrows when they gave St Kilda a round-one pick for losing Josh Battle to Hawthorn under free agency, and did the same for GWS when Harry Perryman went to Collingwood.

Earlier on Tuesday, retired Richmond captain Dylan Grimes told SEN that the Eagles had hit paydirt by signing Andrew McQualter as their new coach and also bringing in Graham.

McQualter was an assistant coach at the Tigers and Grimes played alongside Graham in the 2017 and ’20 premiership teams.

Grimes called McQualter a “star” and said the Eagles players would “fall in love” with Graham as soon as they start training with the on-baller.

“He seems to be able to get more out of his aerobic capacity than any other player I’ve met,” Grimes said.

“What that looks like on game day is just this absolute workhorse; a team player, someone that really is happy to do a role for a team.

“He’s a star on and off the field. There’s reasons why a couple of years ago people were talking about Jack as potentially the next captain (of Richmond).

“They’ve picked a really good player. He’s going to give a lot to that football club.”

Graham played 14 games this season for a career total of 131.

West Coast also want to trade for Baker, while Bolton (Fremantle) and Rioli (Gold Coast) are likely to depart Richmond during trade period.

But taciturn Tigers football boss Blair Hartley has made it clear that it’s up to rival clubs to pitch their deals.

Meanwhile, Collingwood look in the box seat to secure the trade for Port Adelaide’s two-time Australian Dan Houston.

The defender wants to join a Melbourne club, but has not publicly nominated a preference.

Carlton and North Melbourne are also interested, but Collingwood’s likely trade with Gold Coast for John Noble would give them pick No.13.

That would give them the leverage they need to nail the deal with Port for Houston, one of the biggest names in the trade period mix.

No immediate breakthrough is expected as Geelong negotiate with the Western Bulldogs over Bailey Smith, who is out of contract and keen to join the Cats.

The popular thinking is that Smith’s move won’t be confirmed until much closer to the October 16 trade period deadline.