Matthew Richardson's future in his handsJon Ralph | September 08, 2009
RICHMOND has told star forward Matthew Richardson it needs to know by December whether he intends to play on next year.
The 34-year-old has asked for more time to assess his suspect hamstrings, even though the club has indicated it wants him to play on.
As a veteran Richardson is outside the primary list, so if he decides to retire the club needs to know only by the rookie draft on December 15 so it can select another rookie.
He will spend the off-season monitoring not only his health but his motivation before returning with a decision.
Richardson had been considered a certainty to play on after new coach Damien Hardwick's effusive praise of him.
But the delay raises some uncertainty over his future, with Richardson to turn 35 in March.
His manager, Ricky Nixon, said yesterday no one was in a hurry to rush a decision.
"They want him to play, there is a contract there, but it's a matter of whether he wants to play on or not," Nixon said.
"He wants some time to think about it. He wants to know in his own mind that his hamstrings are right and his mind is right. People keep coming up with deadlines.
"But there is no rush. The club says there is no rush. He can tell them in December because he's a veteran."
Richardson is in the fortunate position of being able to decide his own future.
He was forced to cut short a comeback from hamstring surgery when he pulled up sore in a VFL game for Coburg, but medicos say he can make a successful return next year.
Nixon says Richardson is determined to make the right decision.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,26040892-19742,00.html