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Former AFL list guru Chris Pelchen says Richmond big trade winner, despite losing Jack Higgins, Oleg Markov

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Catherine HealeyThe West Australian
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VideoRichmond have continued to celebrate their grand final win at their hub on the Gold Coast

Former AFL list guru Chris Pelchen has revealed his 2020 AFL Trade period winner – and it’s a club who didn’t recruit a single player.

Pelchen says Richmond are the shock winner of the trade period after managing to keep the majority of its list while holding onto key draft picks – in a warning to the rest of the competition.

“(Richmond) haven’t been spoken about a lot,” Pelchen said on SEN.

“They didn’t do a lot and for that I give them a big tick.

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“When you’re winning premierships, let alone three in four years, to actually not be in a significantly worse position than the year before, that’s a real credit to Richmond.

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“They, to me, were a big winner in this trade period.”

The Tigers gave up just two players – grand final emergency Oleg Markov (to Gold Coast) and fringe forward Jack Higgins (to St Kilda) – during the trade period.

“When you look at the (top four) clubs around them, Port Adelaide, Brisbane and Geelong, they all had to trade slightly more aggressively to correct their position… because of that, they traded out of the Draft,” Pelchen said.

VideoNathan Broad isn't going anywhere, with the WA junior putting pen to paper at Richmond.

“Richmond has maintained two picks in the top 40 after winning the premiership.

“Those other three clubs that finished in the top four have got two picks between them in the top 40.”

Richmond hold picks 17 and 36 while rivals Port Adelaide’s first draft pick is 35, Brisbane’s is 25 and Geelong’s is 51 — after giving up three first rounders for star Jeremy Cameron.

Pelchen said it was “unheard of” for four clubs to hold the majority of power in the AFL Draft.

Adelaide and Essendon have five of the top 10 draft picks, while GWS (three) and North Melbourne (two) also dominate the early picks.

“You’ve got four clubs with 10 of the picks inside the top 15,” Pelchen lamented.

“You’ve got Adelaide and Essendon who will pretty much direct the draft.”

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