In the lead-up to the 2022 AFL national draft to be held on November 28-29, with Richmond currently holding picks 53 and 63, Tony Greenberg has compiled a list of the Tigers’ all-time top 10 draft selections over pick 50. We will count them down from 10 to one on a daily basis throughout the next couple of weeks. First-up, coming in at No. 10, is Sam Lloyd.
Sam Lloyd was Richmond’s third pick (No. 66 overall) in the 2013 AFL national draft, recruited from VFL club Frankston.
Three years earlier (2010), while playing for Murray League club Deniliquin, the clever forward had booted more than 100 goals for the season.
Lloyd made his senior debut with the Tigers in Round 4 of the 2014 season against Collingwood at the MCG. He had 22 disposals, kicked three goals and was one of the team’s best players.
With eight senior games all-up in 2014 and 10 goals, followed by 12 appearances and 13 goals in 2015, Lloyd was making solid progress at the game’s highest level.
It was the next season, however, that Lloyd produced his best football at Tigerland, playing all 22 games and kicking 35 goals.
The highlight of Lloyd’s 2016 season (and arguably his Yellow and Black career) came in a tight Round 8 encounter with Sydney at the MCG.
Richmond, having suffered six consecutive losses, was trailing by five points with just seconds remaining in the match.
The Tigers surged forward, and Lloyd marked a pass from teammate Ben Griffiths, about 45 metres out from goal at the Punt Road end of the ground on an angle.
As the final siren sounded, Lloyd coolly accepted the huge responsibility that had been placed on his shoulders.
His set shot sailed between the big sticks to give Richmond a stirring one-point win.
All-up, Lloyd played 57 games and kicked 69 goals for Richmond in a five-season career from 2014-18.
His best individual goal tally in a match with the Tigers was three, which he scored 11 times.
