TIGERS SHOULD ‘REJUVENATE’ MIDFIELDFoxsports
7 July 2021Richmond has been urged to look to youth to “rejuvenate (its) midfield” at season’s end by targeting emerging on-ballers that have only been recently drafted, or young guns in this year’s draft class.
The Tigers’ finals hopes are in jeopardy and their chances of a three-peat are almost shot after a third consecutive loss saw them drop out of the top eight.
Coach Damien Hardwick has often been working with depleted midfield groups this season, with experienced campaigners like Dion Prestia, Kane Lambert, Trent Cotchin, Toby Nankervis and Shane Edwards all missing at least three matches each this season.
The Tigers are one of several Victorian clubs that have been heavily linked to Fremantle young gun Adam Cerra, who remains unsigned beyond 2021 despite the Dockers earlier this year offering him a four-year deal worth around $750,000 per season.
Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell has also been linked to the Tigers after foxfooty.com.au reported the Hawks ball magnet, under the right circumstances, would be open to being traded to another Victorian club at season’s end.
Power games record-holder Kane Cornes told Channel 9’s Footy Classified Richmond “need to rejuvenate this midfield”, prompting veteran football journalist Caroline Wilson to suggest: “Two words: Tom Green. It’s romantic.”
Cornes said Green, a young gun midfielder contracted to the Giants until at least the end of 2023 and the grandson of four-time premiership Tiger Michael Green, was in the right age bracket for the Tigers to target, adding: “I wouldn’t be going for a 28-year-old in the midfield … You’ve got to go to the draft or got to someone that’s between 19 and 23 years of age.”
Asked if Cerra would be the right fit for the Tigers, Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd told Footy Classified: “I think if Richmond feel they can challenge again, I wouldn’t pay someone $750,000 to come to Richmond. I’d keep my picks and try and see if you can get a Cerra-type paying them $80,000 next year in the draft.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/department-of-trade/afl-trade-news-rumours-whispers-2021-jake-stringer-essendon-contract-jordan-dawson-adelaide-tom-green-richmond/news-story/5dc10175a169a117bf0b53adf4eb4f61