Kimmy from Perth at it again
Stakes high in chase for Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt Kim Hagdorn
The Sunday Times
July 20, 2013 10:00PMFREMANTLE might have to sacrifice a precious first-round draft pick if a bidding war erupts over Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt.
The Dockers are in the market to secure the dual Coleman medallist on an estimated $3million deal over four years if he decides to leave the Tigers at the end of the season.
Riewoldt, 24, is out of contract in October and continues to be in dispute with Tigers management over his asking price to extend his career at Punt Road.
His negotiations appear to have stalled and are complicating attempts to sign other important links in Richmond's premiership campaign in the approaching three to four seasons.
Fremantle officials have bluntly refused to discuss list management and recruitment.
Riewoldt, who has booted 305 goals in 127 games, is firmly in the Dockers' sights to considerably bolster their scoring potency as champion forward Matthew Pavlich nears retirement.
Fremantle launched audacious, but ultimately failed bids to win the services of a gun power forward in recent trade periods, with huge financial packages offered to Mitch Clark in 2011 when he left Brisbane and then Collingwood's Travis Cloke last year.
The Dockers were also in the early running to put together an attractive financial lure to Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin, who looks headed for a move to Greater Western Sydney.
Riewoldt's negotiations are holding up attempts to retain young midfielder Dustin Martin on the back of the Tigers re-signing captain Trent Cotchin earlier this season.
Cotchin, just 23 and in his first season as Tigers captain, inked a new two-year contract in early March through to the end of 2015.
It is believed Riewoldt is seeking a deal of similar magnitude as his skipper, but is after a much longer term than Cotchin's two-season extension.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/stakes-high-in-chase-for-richmond-forward-jack-riewoldt/story-fniv64vs-1226682421442
