Richmond will be hoping Maurice Rioli Jr. continues a long-standing drafting trend at Tigerland.

The Tigers, who took Rioli at pick 51 overall in last week’s 2020 AFL national draft, have unearthed several gems with draft selections in the 50s throughout the past three decades.

It all started with rugged key defender Paul Bulluss, from SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens, recruited by Richmond at pick 52 in the 1992 national draft.

Bulluss was a solid contributor for the Tigers in defence, playing 97 games from 1993-98.

Utility player Mark Merenda, from WAFL club West Perth, was drafted by Richmond with pick 50 in 1993.

The talented Merenda played 75 games and kicked 62 goals in an injury-interrupted seven-season career at Punt Road from 1994-00.

Then, in the 2000 national draft, the Tigers struck gold with young Dandenong Stingrays defender Chris Newman at pick 55.

Newman had a fine 268-game career with Richmond and led the team admirably as captain for four seasons.

In the 2003 national draft, the Tigers secured strongly-built Oakleigh Chargers teenager Daniel Jackson at pick 53.

Jackson played 156 games for Richmond, predominantly as a midfielder, and won the Jack Dyer Medal in 2013.

Four years ago, another talented, tough, teenage midfielder was taken by the Tigers at pick 53 in the national draft.

Jack Graham, from SANFL club North Adelaide, has gone on to be a dual Yellow and Black premiership player (2017, 2020), and his best football is still ahead of him.