The focus on specific players is interesting, but wrong, IMO.
The first place to start is to identify the problem positions we have. And then see what our squad has to fill them.
For the last few years I have been on the same rant. No.1 need is an aggressive, goal kicking small forward. It's a gigantic gap
DATA:
1. The 2014 list of goalkickers contains exactly ONE Richmond player - Jack - in the top 30. Pathetic.
2. In a not unrelated stat, in 2014 we only scored >100 points in 4 of the 23 games (83% failure). Hawks did it 15 times.
3. We are locked into a tall forward line set-up now, and for the foreseeable future. Riewoldt, Vickery, Griffo, McBean, etc. Crumbs galore.
4. This type of player exists and other clubs have managed to develop them. It's not Mission Impossible.
In 2014, Breust, Gunston, Eddie Betts and Hayden Ballantyne have all kicked 50+ goals with numerous assists.
We need a small forward who can kick 35+ goals a season. Jake was good at locking the ball in but he was never going to kick a ton of goals. Gordon isn't the body, speed or athletic type. Dusty is way better and bigger than this type of role. Ballantyne may be a turd, but he's the prototype of what we need.
So:
a. Is there anyone on our list who can become a Breust/Gunston/Betts/Ballantyne? Actually, we need two, to provide backup.
b. If not (as I would argue) then what's our plan to get two of these types from trading or the draft? We have cap space so who's out there we can target?