One-Eyed Richmond Forum

Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: WilliamPowell on February 04, 2018, 09:06:15 PM

Title: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: WilliamPowell on February 04, 2018, 09:06:15 PM
Richmond premiership hero Jack Graham re-commits until end of 2020

Daniel Cherny
Feb 4, 2018

Richmond have received a significant pre-season boost, with grand final hero Jack Graham opting to stay in Victoria, agreeing to a two-year contract extension with the Tigers.

The South Australian, who turns 20 later this month, was a revelation at the end of last season, playing the last five games of the year, including all three of Richmond's finals. His grand final showing was the most impressive of all, with the midfielder kicking three goals from 16 disposals as well as nullifying his childhood hero, Adelaide star Rory Sloane.

With the Tigers understandably keen to fend off advances from elsewhere, The Age understands they have secured the teenager until the end of the 2020 season.

From North Adelaide, the solidly built 181-centimetre Graham was a slider in the 2016 draft, falling to pick 53 amid concerns about his fitness and disposal despite winning the Larke Medal for the best player in division one of the national under-18 championships. He was then sidelined for the first half of last season with an ankle injury before working his way back through the VFL to earn a senior debut in the round 22 win over Fremantle. Remarkably, his career record stands at five games, five wins and one premiership.

Then on Saturday he became one of the 17 2017 premiership players to be awarded life membership at Richmond after the club recently changed its constitution to mean all premiership players automatically receive the honour. Five of the premiership team were already life members, having met other criteria.

As well as his three grand final majors, Graham did an outstanding job on Sloane, who had 15 disposals and two goals to half-time, keeping the Crow to just six second-half disposals. Speaking the day after that game, Graham spoke of the "surreal" experience."I definitely did look up to him. In your draft year you have to look up to someone, and that's who I picked: Rory,"

"[It was] pretty surreal to come up next to him in the middle on grand final day. When Dimma [coach Damien Hardwick] first told me that I was going to have to go to him I was thinking, 'Oh hell, what's going to happen here?' [I was] just playing my role for the team. Just get it done. I didn't want to bash him or anything but just push him under a little bit and annoy him. But I respect Rory a lot. Model my game on him. Whatever Dimma told me I had to do."

The bulk of the most impressive first-year players from 2017 have already re-signed with their clubs. The No 1 pick of 2016, Essendon's Andrew McGrath, signed a contract extension over the off-season, as did the No 3 pick, Brisbane Lion Hugh McCluggage. That deal was particularly significant, given the Lions' issues in recent years with player retention – the most recent example being Josh Schache's move to the Western Bulldogs, only two years after being taken at No 2 in the draft.

Both of last year's top-two selections, Cameron Rayner (Brisbane Lions) and Andy Brayshaw (Fremantle), both of whom are Victorian, have already extended their initial two-year deals despite having not yet played a senior game.

Almost all of Richmond's premiership players are contracted beyond 2018, although Shaun Grigg, Bachar Houli and Dylan Grimes are believed to come out of contract at the end of this season.


http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-premiership-hero-jack-graham-recommits-until-end-of-2020-20180204-h0te5d.html
Title: Re: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: Damo on February 04, 2018, 09:10:25 PM
Sensational news !!!
Title: Re: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: JP Tiger on February 04, 2018, 10:59:48 PM
Fantastic news!  I absolutely love what this guy brings to our team, to be such a complete player at such a young age is so rare.     :gotigers 
Title: Re: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: YellowandBlackBlood on February 04, 2018, 11:27:09 PM
 :clapping
Title: Re: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: (•))(©™ on February 05, 2018, 12:29:23 AM
Not as great as they say.
Not as bad as we do.


Pretty bad Tho.
Title: Re: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: Diocletian on February 05, 2018, 04:22:11 PM
What the stuff are you on about Guido?
Title: Re: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: YellowandBlackBlood on February 05, 2018, 04:55:53 PM
 :lol
Title: Re: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: mightytiges on February 06, 2018, 01:29:56 AM
A premiership medal, a starring role in the GF, never experienced losing a match & life membership of the Club. Jack would've been going 'Where do I sign for more of this!' ;D.
Title: Re: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: RedanTiger on February 06, 2018, 04:41:41 PM
Anybody got the still from when he brings the cup into the rooms after the GF win?
Title: Re: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: one-eyed on February 06, 2018, 06:23:02 PM
Anybody got the still from when he brings the cup into the rooms after the GF win?
This one, RT?

(http://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2017/09/30/557352.jpg)
Title: Re: Graham Re-signs until End of 2020
Post by: RedanTiger on February 07, 2018, 09:04:14 PM
Nup, when he and Cotchin walked down the race to the rooms.

Really loved Cotch for doing that, and Dusty for calling all the boys (including VFL and staff) into the ring for the song.
Little recognition things can deliver huge benefits.