Richmond’s Recruiting Manager, Francis Jackson, believes the key to rapidly boosting the team’s depth of playing talent, does not revolve exclusively around off-season acquisitions, via the free agency and trade periods, or the drafts.

“I remember sitting here last year, discussing our flaws and thinking that we had issues in defence,” Jackson said on this week’s “Talking Tigers” off-season special.

“We look back on 12 months, and how far we’ve come in that regard, with Alex (Rance) progressing again, and Dylan Grimes really playing a vital role.

“Then, we bring in Stevie Morris, who’s a first-year player, Brandon Ellis, who’s a first-year player, and Jake Batchelor, a second-year player.

“Sometimes, you can sit back and say, ‘Oh, we need this, we need that’, but they can come on very quickly.

“We hope a couple of players will really improve significantly next year, which I’m sure they will, which will strengthen perhaps our perceived weaknesses at the minute.”

Jackson then cited several young Tiger players, who he rates as talented prospects, with the capacity to become senior regulars and bolster the team’s depth.

“Brad Helbig’s been most unlucky with injury, but when he returned to the senior team late in the season, he really showed his wares, and I think he’s a potential midfielder, who will really add to our depth there,” he said.

“Matty Arnot had a longer-term ankle injury last season, which hindered his progress, but we’re hoping he can step up.

“And, I think Reece Conca has significant improvement in him as well.

“Then, there’s the three young ‘talls’ in Dave Astbury, Todd Elton and Ben Griffiths . . . they’re really vital for our structure going forward.

“So, I think it’s generally exciting, considering how much improvement our younger players still have in them.”