Richmond president John O’Rourke has sent an indirect but clear message to the club’s group of wantaway AFL stars during his speech at their best and fairest on Tuesday night.
The Tigers are bracing for the loss of Daniel Rioli, who won his first Jack Dyer Medal on Tuesday, Shai Bolton and Liam Baker, who came equal fifth in the count, and Jack Graham.
Rioli is likely to link back up with his former coach Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast, West Australian-born Baker has officially nominated West Coast as his club of choice, with Graham expected to join him there via free agency, and Bolton has also asked for a trade home to Perth.
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It’s a genuine player exodus that will significantly delay the Tigers’ rebuild from their wooden spoon 2024 season, but will see them go to this year’s draft with an embarrassment of riches.
In a hardly subtle message during his speech, O’Rourke juxtaposed the trade and free agency chaos that will ensue with the loyalty of players like Nathan Broad, who himself was also drafted from Western Australia.
“No matter what happens in the trade period immediately ahead, we know we’ve still got a very strong cohort of experience and leadership, with a group that still has so much to offer on-field, but can make an equally strong contribution in setting the standards and guiding our young players through this next phase of growth,” the president said.
“I could mention a dozen players that we have in this category, but just by way of example — and he probably won’t like me singling him out — but how fortunate are we to have players of the character of a Nathan Broad?
“He is a player who was drafted into an era of, well, immediate club success as a mature-age player.
“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.”
Broad made clear earlier this year that no matter how bad it got at Richmond on-field, he felt indebted to the Tigers for giving him a chance as a mature-age recruit and would not be going anywhere.
The veteran defender signed a two-year contract extension in September.
O’Rourke went on to read Broad’s exact quote during his speech: “No one really wanted me as a 22-year-old, but Richmond did. I’m fully indebted to this club and I’m looking to get us back up the ladder, which is exciting.”
“What a Richmond man. And his optimism around the place this year I just thought was brilliant,” O’Rourke finished.
It took little imagination to hear the words he wasn’t saying, among those he was, as certain sections of the room felt the awkward tension.
In his own speech to accept the Kevin Bartlett Medal for coming fifth, Baker thanked the club ahead of his departure.
“It’s been a great year and I appreciate everything the club’s done for myself and my family over the years and this year,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to what the club does in the future and I can’t wait to support it. It’s going to be great looking from afar, so thank you for everything.”
O’Rourke also threw his support behind coach Adem Yze, whose first year was tainted with injuries and on-field struggles as he won just two games in charge.
“I do want to make it very clear tonight that our board is 100 per cent behind Adem and our football department leaders Blair Hartley and Tim Livingstone,” O’Rourke said.
“They will be given the clear air now to own and put their stamp on the next generation of the Richmond Football Club. I’m sure, in fact I know, our fans are really sharing in the excitement of the players that have emerged this year, by the players that will return from long-term injury in 2025, and the multiple opportunities that we may have to draft in new talent later this year.”
Rioli won the Dyer Medal on 40 votes, two ahead of star defender Nick Vlastuin.
Skipper Toby Nankervis rounded out the podium on 36 votes, while Broad was next on 33.
Dustin Martin, who played just 13 games, finished equal 19th with Thomson Dow and Jacob Koschitzke on 11.
Earlier in the night, he poured cold water over the suggestion that he will come out of retirement and make a move north to Gold Coast.