Following the conclusion of another hectic, fast-finishing home and away season, it's time to prepare for finals football once again.
While eight teams' hopes of holding this year's premiership cup aloft remain alive, ten clubs' seasons are officially over after failing to qualify for September football.
Despite all the attention rightly being on the contenders, each bottom-ten side faces pertinent list management decisions that will shape its future.
Taking into account draft hands and off-contract commodities, we explore those impending decisions facing 2023's bottom ten.
Richmond
Indicative draft hand: 25, 44, 62, 80.ย
The Tigers are strapped for draft picks this year, having traded away multiple selections to snare ex-GWS midfield duo Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper in 2022.ย
Richmond's hard cap doesn't figure to be as burdened next season after offloading the modest contracts of Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, and Robbie Tarrant, meaning the club's list committee might entertain the possibility of making a 'salary dump' deal in a similar mould to that of Geelong's agreement with Gold Coast for utility Jack Bowes last year.ย
Alternative to a 'dump' deal, the Tigers may ponder a pick-swap trade with a team such as the Suns, who need to accumulate the requisite amount of draft points in order to match contending bids for their trio of Academy stars; Jed Walter, Ethan Read, and Jake Rogers.ย
Facilitating such an arrangement could land the Punt Road club with Gold Coast's No. 4 selection, for example; representing a pragmatic way to re-enter the first round and nab a talented prospect to set up the Tigers' future.ย
Off-contract players:
Jacob Bauer, Kaelan Bradtke, Mate Colina, Thomson Dow, Rhyan Mansell, Bigoa Nyuon, Hugo Ralphsmith.
Bauer, a Mid-Season Draft pick from 2022, is a near-certainty to remain on Richmond's list next season via a new contract, having produced plenty of promising glimpses as a leading and marking forward at senior and reserves levels.
The same might go for inside midfielder Dow, who arguably played his best game in Tigers colours against Port Adelaide at the weekend, registering 27 disposals and 13 contested possessions in an eye-opening effort.ย
Mansell and Bradtke appear to be line-ball calls for new contracts, though they may have done enough to secure new deals at Tigerland beyond this year.ย
Colina and Nyuon, on the other side of the ledger, may be facing nervous waits for their exit interviews, having proven little during their time at Punt Road, while Ralphsmith could represent trade bait for a team such as St Kilda, due to the outside runner's Bayside ties.ย
List decisions
The Richmond future of enigmatic ruckman Ivan Soldo shapes as one of the Tigers' most intriguing upcoming list decisions. The 27-year-old has flashed unexpected glimpses as a leading forward, however, his best work is done in the ruck, hitting to the advantage of Richmond's midfield beneficiaries.ย
Despite Soldo's contracted status next season, Toby Nankervis' solidified presence, coupled with the expected imminent emergence of ruck-forward Samson Ryan, the mulleted tall may ultimately end up calling another club home in 2024.ย
The Tigers could also toy with the prospect of dealing Ralphsmith, or contracted midfielder Jack Graham, who may again explore alternative options a year on from entertaining Port Adelaide's overtures, while a Dustin Martin-to-Gold Coast deal is highly unlikely to eventuate, in spite of conjecture.ย
