'Needs to be addressed': Tigers' strategy sparks chaos as draft system comes under microscope

The Tigers left night one of the 2025 AFL draft with mixed emotions after a first round that proved as eventful as it was unpredictable.

In a draft already billed as chaotic, it was the Tigers' pick that actually triggered the upheaval.

The Tigers, who finished the season second last, used their opening pick at No.7 in the final draft order. Their delayed spot in the queue was because of a combination of draft bids and free agency compensation.

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With the first pick, West Coast secured Gippsland Power utility Willem Duursma.

The draft then saw bids successfully matched, as Gold Coast snapped up academy gun Zeke Uwland and Carlton delivered father-son talent Harry Dean to Ikon Park.

West Coast then returned to the action to select Calder Cannons ruck-forward Cooper Duff-Tytler.

Earlier, the Eagles had placed bids on Uwland and Dean.

The Tigers then made their presence felt, lodging unsuccessful bids on academy players Dylan Patterson and Daniel Annable, forcing both the Suns and the Lions to match and retain their respective academy players.

This promised a significant follow-on effect, particularly for Essendon and Melbourne.

With the Eagles holding the first two picks in the draft — compensation for the departure of captain Oscar Allen — the Tigers' first selection, and the third from the open pool, did not arrive until No.7.

Richmond was thrilled to select North Adelaide's Sam Cumming with that selection, before immediately following up by adding Oakleigh's Sam Grlj one pick later — as planned.

This meant the club overlooked draft bolter Sullivan Robey from the Eastern Ranges.

The selection of Grlj meant new possibilities for Essendon, who had strategically acquired Carlton's pick nine (before bids) to give them a substantial arsenal of three first-round selections.

The Bombers also did a good job of keeping their cards close to their chest and were happily able to select Robey at No.9.

Questioned on the outcome of the wait-and-see game the Tigers played, recruitment manager Rhy Gieschen said that the draft system needs improvement.

"The system needs to be addressed a little bit," he said on Wednesday night.

"I think when you finish second bottom on the ladder, you probably don't expect to have pick seven.

"We're really strong and confident with the boys that we have, but I'm not sure that's the way the system was designed in the first place.

"We contributed to that. We bid on two players, and we did that because they're quality players as well.

"So, we think that we contributed to making that a little bit more fair and equal, with those clubs having to work for them."

"It's something that the AFL is looking at, and they've clearly changed rules for next year as well. So, it'll be a work in progress to try and get a balance right."

The Tigers will make at least one more selection at the draft, holding two remaining picks at No.31 and No.61.

Pick 31 is the sixth next pick heading into night two, but may also be pushed up due to rival bids on Academy and father-son options.

"At this stage, we hold two picks, so we've got two list spots and we can pick two, but we're definitely picking," Gieschen said.

"We've got pick 31 and we're really excited about that.

"We've got some names on the board, probably regardless of what the other clubs do, we're confident with the guy that we're getting, and then we'll just sit and wait.

"As you've seen tonight, bids are occurring and clubs have got decisions to make."