In the lead-up to the 2022 AFL national draft to be held on November 28-29, and 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 are counting them down from 10 to one, with Nathan Broad coming in today at No. 4.

Nathan Broad was recruited by Richmond from WAFL club Swan Districts with its third pick, No. 67 overall, in the 2015 national draft.

Broad, a versatile defender, had performed impressively at senior level with Swan Districts for several seasons.

Despite his good form at WAFL level, he had been overlooked in four AFL drafts. So, he was hoping, rather than expecting, his AFL dream would come to fruition, until the Tigers read his name out on national draft night in 2015.

The then 22-year-old was extremely grateful to Richmond for the opportunity and set about repaying the faith the Club had shown in him.

Seven years on, it’s fair to say he’s repaid that faith in spades.

Broad is a triple Tiger premiership player and one of the most valuable, respected members of the team in his defensive role.

Combining close-checking, disciplined defence with strong intercept marking, rapid rebound out of the backline, the ability play on small or tall forward opponents, courage and toughness, makes Broad worth his weight in gold for the Tigers.

There are no frills with the way Broad plays his role in Richmond’s backline – it’s minimum fuss, but maximum efficiency.

The dependable defender played a valuable role in the Tigers’ 2017, 2019 and 2020 premiership triumphs, and has taken his game to an even higher level in the two seasons since then.

He recorded his first top-10 placing in the Jack Dyer Medal in 2021, finishing equal 10^th, and was outright 10^th this year.