Richmond president John O’Rourke has appeared to take a thinly-veiled swipe at several departing premiership players at the Tigers’ best and fairest awards on Tuesday night.
The club is bracing themselves for an exodus of several stars, including Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton, Liam Baker and Jack Graham after an embarrassing 2024 season.
Rioli will likely end up at the Gold Coast, while Baker, Bolton and Graham are expected to head to Western Australia.
In a not-so-subtle speech, O’Rourke heaped praise on the loyalty of players who were sticking with the club, like Nathan Broad.
‘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,’ O’Rourke 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.’
Richmond president John O’Rourke has appeared to take a thinly-veiled swipe at several departing premiership players, including Daniel Rioli (pictured)
Shai Bolton (pictured) 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
The West Australian defender penned a two-year contract extension last month.
O’Rourke then went on to read Broad’s quote, which he said: ‘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.’
O’Rourke finished up by saying: ‘What a Richmond man. And his optimism around the place this year I just thought was brilliant.’
The club president also threw his support behind coach Adem Yze after a dismal season.
‘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.’
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.
Three of four players who want to leave Richmond finished in the top five of the best and fairest, won by Daniel Rioli (pictured)
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.