Richmond plan to be major players in this year's AFL trade period and are already developing a scheme to capitalise on the advent of free agency a year later.

The Tigers' struggles in the ruck and key defensive posts this season have highlighted some holes in their playing stocks.

And football general manager Craig Cameron said Richmond, who last year recruited Shaun Grigg from Carlton and Bachar Houli from Essendon, will again seek to fill deficiencies with AFL-experienced talent.

"We will be active and very targeted in the trade (period) this year," Cameron told the club's website.

"And, we will be looking at every opportunity to improve the list."

Cameron said that could include trading for one of the 17-year-old players which expansion club Greater Western Sydney can access, but then must trade on, under their establishment concessions.

Cameron also said Tigers' list manager Blair Hartley is already planning for the introduction of free agency at the end of the 2012 season, which will make it easier for AFL players with eight years or more of service to switch clubs.

"(Hartley) is writing a free-agency strategy for the club that will encompass the next three years," Cameron said.

"We are mindful that free agency starts in 2012 and that must be part of our long-term planning."

Cameron acknowledged Richmond's defence needs to be strengthened.

But he notes that long-term injuries to emerging key defenders Dylan Grimes and David Astbury and the more experienced Kelvin Moore make that issue seem more severe than it is.

"We will be on the lookout to bolster our defence, but we must ensure that we allow our younger tall backs to develop," he said.

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