Richmond reportedly offering Reece Conca reduced contract to stay at Punt Road Sam Edmund
From: Herald Sun
September 11, 2013 11:07PMREECE Conca wants to stay at Richmond, but his loyalty will cost him.
Club and player remain apart in talks, but industry sources said Conca would have to accept significantly less to stay at Punt Rd than he could get on the open market.
Richmond continues to hold firm play hardball with the West Australian’s manager Colin Young, refusing to budge on an offer it made about six months ago.
It is believed several rival clubs are staggered by the amount Conca is being asked to accept and have made inquiries.
His manager, Colin Young, was reluctant to comment on Wednesday, but said reports Conca was chasing a $350,000-a-year deal at Punt Rd werewell wide of the mark.
Former Richmond assistant David King, now a leading football analyst, said the Tigers could not afford to lose Conca.
“As a true midfielder, only Trent Cotchin will be ahead of him at Richmond in 20 games’ time,” King said. “I think he’s a Jimmy Bartel-style player; he just gets the job done. They don’t look flamboyant, but what they do is brilliant.”
Conca was to meet coach Damien Hardwick this week before a second check-up on the hamstring he tore against Carlton on Sunday.
It is understood he has requested a small increase, and negotiations are expected to come to a head in the next two weeks.
Conca, 21, has played 52 games since being taken with pick No.6 in the 2010 national draft and was highly promising this year despite suffering a stress reaction in his right foot.
The delay in re-signing him comes as teammate Dustin Martin edges closer to ending his drawn-out contract saga.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-reportedly-offering-reece-conca-reduced-contract-to-stay-at-punt-road/story-fndv8t7m-1226717252852
