Tigers add to AFL draft bounty with Bolton, Rioli deals

Justin Chadwick and Roger Vaughan Published October 16, 2024 at 11.15am (AWST)

Sport

Daniel Rioli will join former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick at the Suns. (Image: Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)

Daniel Rioli's reunion with coach Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast means Richmond now boast a whopping eight picks in round one of the AFL draft.

The Tigers confirmed Rioli's trade to the Suns on the last day of the trade period, shortly after they also sent fellow premiership player Shai Bolton to Fremantle.

Richmond scored the No.6 and 23 round-one picks for Rioli, while also sending later picks to Gold Coast.

The Bolton deal was even more lucrative for Richmond in terms of draft picks, scoring the No.10, 11 and 18 selections, while they sent No.14 to the Dockers.

The Tigers had received the No.14 pick in Tuesday's bumper three-club trade where they lost Liam Baker to West Coast and Carlton scored the No.3 draft pick from the Eagles, much to the consternation of the WA club's fans.

As of Wednesday, Richmond have the first, sixth, 10th, 11th, 18th, 20th, 23rd and 24th picks - all in the first round.

Shai's big moments in the Yellow and Black ⚡ pic.twitter.com/43J6kugK4j

— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) October 16, 2024

Deals involving Bailey Smith, Tom Barrass and Luke Parker, among others, were being thrashed out at Marvel Stadium ahead of the 7.30pm trade period deadline.

The Dockers initially offered Richmond picks No.10 and 18 for Bolton, but the Tigers wanted picks No.10 and 11.

West Coast put pressure on Fremantle by again inquiring about Bolton, forcing the Dockers into action.

Bolton is set to sign a five-year deal with Fremantle, and his impending arrival means the Dockers will start 2025 as one of the premiership favourites.

The 25-year-old won flags with Richmond in 2019 and 2020 during his 135-game career at the Tigers. Bolton kicked 43 goals and averaged 17.5 disposals and 3.6 clearances during his All-Australian year of 2022.

Rioli, 27, has played 183 games for the Tigers and was a member of their three premiership teams between '17-20, which Hardwick coached, as well as winning this year's club best-and-fairest award.

Bolton and Rioli join Baker and Jack Graham in departing the Tigers.