Tigers await looming calls from off-contract stars
Oliver Caffrey |
Richmond will learn within days if off-contract premiership heroes Liam Baker and Jack Graham intend to leave the club.
The Tigers claimed their first wooden spoon since 2004 after losing to Gold Coast by 28 points at the MCG on Saturday.
It was a special day for the Richmond faithful, who got to say goodbye to the legendary Dustin Martin, as well as fellow AFL premiership players Dylan Grimes and Marlion Pickett.
But the changes are not expected to end there, with Baker and Graham in the sights of West Coast and Fremantle.
Richmond have offered the pair contracts for next year and beyond, but it is expected they will depart Punt Rd.
The club will hold exit meetings with all their players after a difficult debut season for coach Adem Yze.
“The next few days are going to be really important,” Yze said.
“We’re not going to rush them into that decision, other than the fact that they know they’ve got a contract in place and we love them as players.
“Watching Liam Baker today, he plays with his heart and soul for our footy club and that’s all I could expect the whole season. Jack Graham was the same.”
Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli are contracted long-term, but they could also end up at different clubs next year.
Bolton hasn’t officially requested a trade, but Richmond are aware of his desire to return to Western Australia to be closer to his family ahead of the birth of his second child.
Rioli is in the sights of Suns coach Damien Hardwick, who left Richmond midway through 2023 after guiding the club to three premierships.
“I can’t comment on what I don’t know anything about,” Hardwick said of Rioli.
“What I do know is he’s been a wonderful player for that club for a long period of time.
“He’s contracted, so things will play out eventually.
“Certainly as a club we’re looking to improve our list. Any good player we would love to have.”
Suns forward Jack Lukosius kicked two goals against Richmond as he weighs up a potential move back to his home state of South Australia during the off-season.
Hardwick said he hoped the contracted Lukosius would stay at the Suns, turning down lucrative offers from Adelaide and Port Adelaide.
“Me and Jack have got a really good relationship,” he said.
“I don’t think I’ve got the best out of Jack this year, and he’s accepted he’s got some areas of his game that he can improve.
“He’s contracted for a number of years, so as far as I’m concerned, I’ve got to get the best out of him in Suns colours because he’s a very, very good player.”
AAP