Tigers talking terms to tie-up Trent Jon Ralph
From: Herald Sun
September 12, 2012 11:30PMRICHMOND'S captain-in-waiting Trent Cotchin has opened talks on a long-term deal that will handsomely reward his breakout season.
Brownlow Medal contender Cotchin finished third in the AFL MVP award on Tuesday and last week won the AFL Coaches Association award.
At 22, he has the world at his feet and is all but assured of the captaincy given up by defender Chris Newman after Round 23.
Talks are under way between manager Anthony McConville and Richmond to renew a contract that expires at the end of 2013.
McConville set up Brett Deledio's five-year deal this year, a contract inked in the days before the season-opener against Carlton.
And while McConville said he was unsure if a deal would be reached by Round1, there would be none of the brinkmanship accompanying many high-profile contracts.
"Yeah, we have had chats so we are at the table talking. It's obviously going to take some time. There is a fair bit to go through but it will all get done in due time," he said.
"I would imagine we would be able to crunch a deal. I would be confident of that, but we need to go through all our normal processes. We haven't got any timeframes."
The Tigers have been linked to Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin and Adelaide half-forward Chris Knights, but have all but ruled out making a play for Travis Cloke.
The main reason they will overlook Cloke is they are so keen to secure the futures of star trio Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin.
McConville is open to the length of term for Cotchin, who has had five seasons of constant improvement.
A three-year deal would see him become a free agent at the end of 2016, but it is not known if the Tigers would entertain a similar deal to Deledio's five-year contract.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/tigers-talking-terms-to-tie-up-trent/story-e6frf9io-1226472922074
