So, was having a think about this (and I'm sure it would have been mentioned by now) but what do we have to offer other than money to potential players? Our biggest rivals I think this trade period will be Melbourne as they will have cash from Mitch Clark leaving. Let's compare the two clubs with a potential Nat Fyfe deal:
Offer on the table:
Both clubs will have similar picks available to offer. Richmond have key position players who will be available to send west (Vickery, Griffiths, Elton, McBean) while Melbourne don't have too much other than midfielders (Dom Barry being the obvious one) and potentially Frawley if a deal could be struck that way.
Probably par on what clubs could offer.
Money and contract length:
I would assume both club's offers will be similar.
Premiership window:
Tigers may have it here with a more mature list but the talent at Melbourne is being supplemented with older bodies (Vince, Cross etc.) If Melbourne can replace the aging bodies they may edge ahead of Richmond. At the moment though I will give it to Richmond
Gameday:
Richmond easily due to the big crowds and passionate supporters
Coaching:
This is where Richmond really fall down. When you look at the two clubs I feel a player would rather go to a proven coach(es) than either an unproven or growing/learning coach. The Paul Roos team has again proven to be astute at not only match day situations but also trading as we have seen in the Dom Tyson trade (a win for both clubs there). What we have also seen is Roos can get mediocre players to play a role and become important to the team. Not an issue in Fyfe's case but something worth noting.
Richmond haven't developed any players well in the recent past. I question how good Cotchin and Deledio could have been in different systems. Good players will always come through but in a good setup they can become even better.
Knowing this and linking back to the previous 'Premiership Window' statement, would a Nat Fyfe rather go to a Paul Roos-led Melbourne with Dom Tyson, Jesse Hogan and Christian Salem coming through or would he rather go to a Damien Hardwick-led Richmond with a Brandon Ellis, Nick Vlastuin and Reece Conca. As much as I am happy with our three players mentioned I can't help but feel Roos will develop the others a bit better than we will with ours in the current setup.
Conclusion:
The above leads me to suspect that while we may make a play at some of these big guns the first thing we need to get right is the backroom staff. Any player looking for success will go to Roos as he has the runs on the board. Money may talk but we may paint ourselves into a corner later on if we pay big bucks now.
I just can't see us being the priority destination for any guns at the moment.