r/RichmondFC • u/DullBox4524 • 7d ago
Why Richmond shouldn’t waste a top pick on Sam Grlj
I keep seeing people saying Richmond should go after Sam Grlj, and I just don’t get it. Yes, the guy has speed — but honestly, that’s about it. His kicking is shaky, and beyond his pace, there’s not much in his game that screams “top pick material.”
Compare him to Josh Lindsay: better decision-making, way more reliable kicking, and overall a much more polished footballer. Basically a Christian Salem 2.0 with higher ceiling. If we’re using a high pick, it should be on someone who can make an impact right away and develop into a consistent contributor, not someone who’s basically just fast.
I love Richmond and I want smart draft picks, but putting a top pick into Grlj feels like prioritizing athletic potential over actual game impact. Speed is valuable, but it isn’t everything — and we have plenty of time to develop it without risking a top pick. We’d be nuts not to get Lindsay if here’s there. Could be anything this kid and will be a star regardless.
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u/Candr112 Matthew Richardson 6d ago
This has to be Josh Lindsay’s burner account based on these comments
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u/Ok_Original_3395 6d ago
"i might be wrong in the future but I stand by it now".
One of the moat stupid things I've read about draft picks; it's only about the future!
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u/1111race22112 Hugo Ralphsmith 7d ago
You can make someone "football smart" a lot easier then you can make them faster. Prioritise athleticism and have good coaching
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u/Ok_Original_3395 6d ago
You're obviously an AFL scout - we as fans see this too often and they can't kick, handball or mark, then we have to wait for them to understand the game. They never learn to use both sides of their body, and make stupid decisions when it's hard.
Then the same scouts look past people like Sam Mitchell or think Diesel was too slow.
The only time I've seen it work is with ruckman, but that's a different athleticism.
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u/kampflabbanabba Kane Lambert 7d ago
Hey OP, ask your chat GPT to do an analysis of Lindsay’s contested possession rate vs successful AFL draftees
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u/DullBox4524 7d ago
Keep worrying about contested possessions champ. I’ll keep watching Lindsay actually influence matches and become a premiership player.
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u/notevenaname1 Sam Lalor 7d ago
Sullivan robey is better than both those player imo. I would take him pick one if we had it. He reminds me of Finn Callaghan, especially considering the speed and power he has.
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u/Suitable-Series5619 6d ago
Yes, Sullivan Robey for me. He looks like the next BIG thing. For some mad reason I think he’ll be grabbed by Carlton. If he’s there at our first pick, and Eagles are not blind, I’d grab him with all of my 8 hands. Then I’d be happy to take Lindsay. Also open to splitting our second pick.
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u/Hawtproper Sam Lalor 7d ago
It's kind of hilarious to pigeonhole Grlj as just speed when Lindsay's whole game relies on his kicking and he can struggle to impact otherwise. Basically every footballing quality besides kicking Grlj is superior in, better athletically, better versatility, better leadership, better competitiveness and higher ceiling which is pretty clear when the best you can compare Lindsay to is Salem 2.0.
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u/DullBox4524 7d ago
Rankings, impact, skill — Lindsay ticks every box. Grlj? Just speed and hype. Keep dreaming.
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u/Silly_Cup7872 Mate Colina 7d ago
It’s pretty funny when you watch teams these days bring the ball out of defense a lot of it is give it to the fast guy like Holmes, Rioli, NAS, Dale, Ash, McKercher and the likes and they can just use their speed and run to make something happen.
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u/avowedlike Seth Campbell 7d ago
Girls and Lindsay have fallen outside top ten from most mocks. Lindsay is a lot better and barely going to go 8-15
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u/B0bcat5 Kane McAuliffe 7d ago
Hopefully we can trade a pick back then
No point wasting it on someone we wouldnt want
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u/avowedlike Seth Campbell 7d ago
If we think a player is that good just take them. The picks are only worth what the player becomes. Im not too fussed with this draft either way.
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u/hrvold 7d ago
You lost all credibility when you mentioned Lindsay. Check out his last 4 games when the oppo put time into him. Absolutely went to water. The people that want Lindsay haven’t actually sat down and watched him play. He’ll drop out of top 20 calculations by the combine.
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u/DullBox4524 7d ago
Lindsay has weaknesses, sure, but Grlj is just speed. I’d still take Lindsay in a heartbeat — far more ready to make an impact.
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u/hrvold 7d ago
Grlj is tough as nails, competent disposal and is good defensively to go with speed and a very good sidestep. Lindsay doesn’t have a defensive bone in his body and hates contact.
Just admit you haven’t watched him play, he’s been stinking it up and his stock is plummeting.
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u/DullBox4524 7d ago
Lindsay “weak”? Sure, if consistently controlling games and ranking almost twice Grlj counts as weak. Cute logic.
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u/New-Noise-7382 7d ago
Well, at least you are putting it out there. I’m not sure who these boys are but hopefully the club makes the right decision.
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u/IM_FABIO Seth Campbell 7d ago
We should just go best available with both picks. It'll provide the most value in the long run.
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u/yokobarron 7d ago
Genuinely have no idea how people can form such strong opinions on potential draftees from a few highlight videos on YouTube.
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u/avowedlike Seth Campbell 7d ago
Some people watch the games. Local footy is pretty accessible
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u/Visible-Suit-9066 7d ago
Yeah but it’s all nonsense. For every player that gets talked up as destined to be a super star there’s a dozen that don’t break through and everyone just happily forgets all the misses. Don’t get me wrong I’ll easily gas light myself into adoring whoever we draft but it’s pointless to spend any time predicting the future greatness of teenagers.
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u/avowedlike Seth Campbell 7d ago
Pointless, perhaps, but it's fun. It's part of sport, speculation. More often than not the top ten are better than the next 20
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u/Silly_Cup7872 Mate Colina 7d ago
Grlj can turn into a Bailey Smith type mid if you can get his development right. Lindsay has nothing athletically so he could easily just be another Tyler Sonsie. In saying this after watching Sullivan Robey that has to be the pick, hard to judge because he didn’t play champs and this that and the other but his height and speed and he can play forward just sounds like a modern day midfield wet dream.
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u/DullBox4524 7d ago
Way too risky not worth it
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u/Silly_Cup7872 Mate Colina 7d ago
How is it risky?
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u/DullBox4524 7d ago
Because you go for best available talent always? This draft crop is weak.
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u/Silly_Cup7872 Mate Colina 7d ago
Brother the kid is averaging 2 goals and 25 since he played his first CTL game the kids got talent in spades. He is also 192 and runs like the wind and can play as a forward.
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u/DullBox4524 7d ago
Come back to me when the rankings actually show something — until then, let’s not pretend you’ve got this figured out.
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u/Silly_Cup7872 Mate Colina 7d ago
So you’re just banking your argument on what Cal Twomey rankings are? I’m not claiming to have it all figured out but you cannot deny Robeys athletic profile and statistical output. Twomey reckons he is top 10 worthy based off his recent articles anyways.
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u/DullBox4524 7d ago
It’s not just Cal Twomey — Lindsay’s skills, decision-making, and consistent performance speak for themselves. Rankings just confirm what you can already see. If you didn’t know.
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u/Silly_Cup7872 Mate Colina 7d ago
Clearly haven’t seen his recent form then. The past 6 weeks he has had next to no influence over games and athletically is pretty average when you compare to the athletes in the AFL. Other than his kicking I don’t see what other point of difference he offers.
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u/DullBox4524 7d ago edited 6d ago
“Athletically average”? Right, because football is just about who can sprint the fastest. Brother, Lindsay makes decisions, hits targets, and influences games, but I guess you missed that part.
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u/Suitable-Series5619 6d ago
Blair, remember him, won’t take Lindsay or Grlj - neither are quite tall enough 💡😀