Free Agency Round Up: Richmond
Posted by Sam MillsJul 20. 2012 9:54 am
AFTER the completion of the 2012 AFL season the league will be revolutionised by the introduction of free agency.
For eligible players this will give them the ability to leave their current club, bypassing the draft and trade periods, and essentially pick their next employer themselves. For the AFL, this will be an unprecedented change.
In the lead up to the introduction of free agency Football Nation is running a series of articles by guest writer Sam Mills that will focus on what free agency will do to your club at the end of the season.
RICHMOND
Nathan Foley
The hard-nosed Tigers midfielder looks set to re-sign with the club. Foley could appeal to other sides but coach Damien Hardwick has recently said that the 120-gamer is in deep negotiations with the club. When Foley is at his very best, he is one of the top on-ballers in the competition and Richmond will be looking to hold onto that potential despite injury. He is a restricted free agent.
Luke McGuane
McGuane’s situation is an interesting one. The 25-year old has played only two matches this season due to injury but has age on his side and the Tigers would be looking for depth as they prepare to challenge for the eight in the coming seasons. He is a consistent performer for Coburg in the VFL and if he wanted more game time at another club it might be possible. However I believe that McGuane will stay at the club, due to Hardwick and the rest of the coaching staff sticking by him when he was injured. He is a restricted fre agent.
Kelvin Moore
You would have to think that Moore would remain with Richmond. The club has stuck by him through the past few years with all his injuries and he has worked particularly hard to get back. He is an unrestricted free agent but should remain with Richmond and as above with McGuane, he is good depth.
Shane Tuck
Tuck will either re-sign or retire. It is well publicised that Tuck approached Damien Hardwick late last year to ask to retire but Hardwick refused to accept it and Tuck has played a key role in the Tigers side this season. He is almost 31-years old so time is not on his side but his form this season suggests that he still has some good football left in him. I think that Tuck will remain in the yellow and black for one more season.
Summary
There are two players that Richmond shoud only have a minor worry for. McGuane and Moore however are loyal people and you would imagine they would stay with some exciting times coming up and finals beckoning. Earlier in the season they of course locked away restricted free agent and star Brett Deledio, to keep him out of reach to other clubs.
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Tags: Brett Deledio, Free Agency, Kelvin Moore, Luke McGuane, Nathan Foley, Shane Tuck
Filled under: AFL, Latest News, Richmond
