Tigers complete AFL draft haul with another tall

Richmond believe they have landed a midfield and spine capable of setting up another AFL golden era after selecting a third key forward when completing a bumper draft haul. Having taken Dustin Martin-like Sam Lalor as the No.1 pick on Wednesday, the Tigers also had the first selection of Thursday night's second round. They rejected rival trade offers for pick No.28 - Essendon and Geelong were reportedly particularly interested - to land athletic key forward-ruck Thomas Sims. The Northern Knights product joined fellow key talls Jonty Faull and Harry Armstrong at Punt Road. It is hoped the trio can succeed retired triple-premiership spearhead Jack Riewoldt and, eventually, fellow flag star Tom Lynch as powerful targets in attack. Lalor and fellow ball-winner Josh Smillie (pick seven) will bolster the midfield, which has lost Martin among a host of premiership stars through retirements, trades and free agency in recent years. Mid-sized forward Taj Hotton (12) and intercept defender Luke Trainer (21) were also taken by the Tigers in the first round, while lightning-quick forward Jasper Alger arrived at pick 58. In addition, Richmond landed a future first-round selection when they gave up pick 27 - at the end of this year's first round - in a live trade with North Melbourne. The eight fresh faces will attempt to help turbo-charge the Tigers' rebuild after the club finished last in Adem Yze's first season as coach. "We feel like we have been able to set ourselves up both with these selections and for next year, as well," Richmond football talent manager Blair Hartley said. "The players we have picked all have the ability to play the game no doubt, but the focus for us next year is giving them the best chance to succeed long-term." Sims was picked ahead of fancied key forwards Jobe Shanahan and Jack Whitlock at the start of the second round. Essendon had been keen on Shanahan, who impressed in three games for the Bombers' VFL side last year, but missed out to West Coast. The strong-marking tall, taken at pick 30, played with Eagles star Harley Reid for Talent League side Bendigo Pioneers. Port Adelaide used pick 33 on Whitlock, who was visibly emotional after his twin brother Matt's selection by North Melbourne with the final pick (27 overall) on Wednesday night. Left on the board overnight, Whitlock described it as a "super stressful" experience but was relieved to be given his chance via pick 33. Father-son twins Ben and Lucas Camporeale - sons of Carlton great Scott Camporeale - both landed at the Blues, who matched rival bids on the pair at picks 43 and 54 respectively. Adelaide (Tyler Welsh, pick 59), Fremantle (Jaren Carr, pick 63) and North Melbourne (River Stevens, pick 67) also took father-son selections. Werribee VFL star Riley Bice, a 23-year-old midfielder, was the first of the mature-age recruits when he was picked by Sydney at 41. Bice's teammate and captain Dom Brew missed out despite his stunning VFL campaign in the Bees' first premiership in 31 years. But Richmond VFL defender Sam Davidson became the 18th successive Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal winner drafted into the AFL thanks to the Western Bulldogs (via pick 51). St Kilda drafted South Australian ruck prospect Alexander Dodson (pick 51), who played under-age basketball for Australia. Sydney chose not to match Collingwood's bid on academy product Joel Cochrane (pick 47), but took Melbourne academy product Riak Andrew (55) - the younger brother of Gold Coast star Mac Andrew - when the Demons opted not to match their bid. The week's drafting ends on Friday afternoon with the pre-season and rookie selections.