Richmond’s president has taken a swipe at a departing quartet of premiership stars as megastar Dustin Martin shuts down speculation of coming out of retirement.
Last month Martin met with Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick, his former mentor at Richmond, fuelling rumours the Tiger great was considering a move to Gold Coast.
Martin, who ended his decorated 302-game career in August, attended Richmond’s best and fairest function on Tuesday night.
“Happily retired,” he told Nine News in response to suggestions he was contemplating a comeback.
Three of four players who want to leave Richmond finished in the top five of the best and fairest, won by Daniel Rioli.
Rioli, who wants to reunite with Hardwick at the Suns next season, polled 40 votes, while Liam Baker and Shai Bolton, who both want trades to Western Australia, tied for fifth with 30 votes each.
Dual premiership-winning midfielder Jack Graham is also leaving the Tigers, who finished last this season with just two wins.
Richmond president John O’Rourke took a thinly veiled swipe at the quartet by highlighting triple premiership player and Perth-born Nathan Broad, who won his second straight Francis Bourke Award for the person who best upholds the club’s trademark values.
Richmond president John O’Rourke had a thinly veiled swipe at Richmond players wanting to leave the club. (AAP: James Ross)
O’Rourke lauded the loyalty of those staying at Richmond to guide “our young players through this next phase of growth”.
“Just by way of example … how fortunate are we to have players of the character of a Nathan Broad,” O’Rourke told the function.
“I know through this year, I’m sure he could have explored options to see out his career in his home state or perhaps look for more lucrative options with other clubs.
“But he chose to extend for a further two years … what a Richmond man.”
Baker wants to join West Coast and their new coach Andrew McQualter, a former Richmond assistant who was interim coach for 13 games last season when Hardwick suddenly quit.
Bolton has also told the Tigers he wants a trade to WA — yet to publicly nominate a preferred destination, the 25-year-old has been linked with Fremantle.
After the Eagles announced McQualter’s appointment on a three-year deal on Monday, Baker and Graham were quick to state their intention of joining West Coast.
The Richmond function was attended by Rioli, Bolton, Baker and Graham despite their desire to leave the club, in contrast to St Kilda’s stance on Josh Battle.
Battle was told not the attend the Saints’ club champion function after signalling his intent to join Hawthorn.
While Graham can depart Richmond as a free agent, the Tigers will strike deals for Bolton, Baker and Rioli when the 10-day trade period opens on Monday.
The Tigers are understood to be eyeing Gold Coast’s pick six at the national draft in a deal for Rioli, who expressed his love for the club when collecting his club champion award.
“I love every single one of you in the room,” Rioli said.
The Perth-born Baker, who featured in Richmond’s 2019 and 2020 premierships, also told of his gratitude to the club.
“I appreciate everything the club has done for myself and my family over the years and this year … I can’t wait to support it and it’s going to be great looking from afar,” he said.
AAP
