Richmond has officially decided not to place a bid on highly touted father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft at tonight's AFL National Draft, according to Channel 9 reporter Trent Kniese.
This decision means another player will be selected with the coveted first overall pick, with Sam Lalor, Jagga Smith and Finn O'Sullivan the top contenders.
Additionally, North Melbourne, which holds the second pick, has also informed Ashcroft they won't bid for him, leaving his draft order in flux.
For a player widely regarded as the best talent in the draft, this development has raised eyebrows. With Carlton at pick three and Adelaide at four reportedly hesitant to bid as well, Ashcroft may not attract a bid until pick five or later.
Ashcroft, the younger brother of Brisbane star Will Ashcroft, has been widely viewed as a generational talent, making his potential slide a surprising twist.
Richmond's decision is believed to be strategic, allowing them to draft a player unlinked to a rival club and bestow them the honour of going number one.
This situation echoes past draft scenarios involving top-rated father-son prospects. Clubs have sometimes chosen not to bid on linked players early, citing reasons such as fostering good relations with rival teams. A similar approach was seen in 2021 when Nick Daicos slid to pick four after initial clubs passed on placing bids.
Brisbane remains prepared to match any bid for Ashcroft and will utilise its draft capital to secure both him and Academy prospect Sam Marshall.
The Lions' recruiting team, led by Dom Ambrogio, has already acknowledged the challenge of juggling their draft points but expressed confidence in finalising their picks without compromising future plans.
With Richmond's highly publicised first draft pick, the Tigers will have the nation hooked as they announce their decision early in tonight's event, setting the stage for an intriguing start to the 2024 AFL National Draft.