A few days before the AFL national draft, Matt Dea discovered the lengths that clubs can go to as they try to find recruiting gems.

Dea sat down with Richmond recruiting manager Francis Jackson in a country town cafe and quickly realised he had been the subject of a football espionage mission.

Jackson had been compiling information on the former Victorian country junior basketball captain while trying to make sure other clubs were unaware of his interest.

Jackson admits he sometimes hid behind trees while watching Dea play.

"I was unaware of it until I met with Francis a couple of weeks ago, he told me the full story," Dea said.

"I couldn't believe how much homework they'd done, it was pretty surprising.

"He did say `just keep it a bit quiet'."

Jackson's homework paid off, with the Tigers selecting Dea last Thursday at pick No.44 in the draft.

He was among seven youngsters Richmond drafted and they met their new team-mates on Sunday at a club barbecue.

Dea had combined basketball and football for a couple of years, but decided earlier this year to aim for the AFL.

"Because I've played basketball for so long, it was pretty tough to go living without it," said the big leaper.

"The initial month was pretty tough, but it's fine now, it's all footy ... it doesn't get much better."

The Tigers' top pick at No.3 was midfielder Dustin Martin, an under-age All-Australian with great skills and a fierce determination.

Martin and his father Shane share a tattoo, "Live Free. Die Free", that the new Tiger has across his midriff.

"It's just me and my Dad - we want to live free and die free, that's about it," he said.

David Astbury is a key-position player who hopes to make his name at Richmond as a lead-up half-forward.

There is a big vacancy for that sort of role at Richmond, following the retirement of club legend Matthew Richardson.

"I'm not sure I can fill the shoes you're talking about just yet - but give some time and I will see what I can do," he said with a grin.

Astbury said it was comforting that he was among so many first-year players at the Tigers.

Ben Griffiths, Troy Taylor, Jerome Webberley and Ben Nason were also recruited through Thursday's draft.

"Once you come through the doors, I guess you're all on the same level," Astbury said.

"To have other (newcomers), I reckon it's going to be terrific, we can all work together.

"It's an exciting time for the football club and hopefully in a few years, once the new facility is up and stuff like that, we can really surge.

"I just want to be a part of that."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP