http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/taylor-back-in-tiger-den/story-e6frf9jf-1225960959785TROUBLED Tiger Troy Taylor is back in Melbourne training for next year's AFL season.
The 19-year-old forward missed the start of pre-season training earlier this month, returning to Alice Springs to ponder his future.
Richmond president Gary March said today Taylor, pick 51 in last year's draft, did not fly to Auckland with the rest of the team for a training camp yesterday, but his future at Richmond looked positive.
"Troy is back at the club and is training today," March said in a chat with fans on the Tigers website.
"He didn't make the trip to NZ due to some visa issues, but we are hopeful over the coming weeks he will be back to full fitness."
March answered concerns about the club's management of its indigenous players, with three - Richard Tambling, Relton Roberts and rookie Alroy Gilligan - leaving the Tigers at the end of last season, and Taylor in doubt, despite a new indigenous talent academy being built at Punt Rd.
"It's true the club parted company with four (sic) Indigenous players this year. Three (sic) of those were purely based on football ability and list management decisions," March said.
"In the case of Richard Tambling he sought a trade as he felt it would be best for his football and the club agreed.
"It's something we are addressing and indeed is an entire AFL issue as 22 Indigineous players were delisted in 2010."
In the wide-ranging chat, March said the Tigers had no plans to play games in Hobart, and an ambitious program to wipe the club's $4.5 million debt within 12 months would be launched in February.
He said axed Essendon coach Matthew Knights would be welcomed back at the club where he played 279 games if he chose to return.
"That's a football department decision, however as a past player he would be welcome in a player mentoring role."
March said the club was on track to achieve its ambitious goal of three top-eight finishes by 2014.
And asked if former Essendon midfielder Bachar Houli would become "a Tiger for sure" in the pre-season draft, March answered: "Yes."
He also confirmed the club would recruit former Demon Brad Miller as a mature-age rookie.
And the Tigers president jumped at an opportunity to take a dig at rival Carlton, which this week announced a $2.2 million profit.
"Interestingly, in their financial results they trumpetted a $2.2m profit when actually after stripping out government grants they made an operating loss of $125k.
So it will be even sweeter when we smash them Round 1 (next year)."
Well that confirms a loss in Round 1 next year
Gary Marsh just STFU will you and let the players do the talking on the field
