Tigers throw back-up lifeline to ruckmen Cameron Wood and Orren Stephenson by: Greg Denham
From: The Australian November 13, 2012 12:00AM
RICHMOND is considering giving another chance to either Cameron Wood or Orren Stephenson via next month's rookie draft.
Both ruckmen hit career crossroads last month when they were cast adrift by their clubs.
Wood, 25, was cut by Collingwood after five years, while Stephenson, 30, was recruited by Geelong as a mature-age selection at No 78 overall in last year's national draft.
Both big men have been spoken to by coach Damien Hardwick about the possibility of joining the Tigers as a back-up ruckman to Ivan Maric and Ty Vickery, and will be invited to train with the Tigers before the rookie draft on December 11.
And former Gold Coast defender Josh Toy has also been given permission by the AFL to be put through his paces with Richmond leading up to Christmas.
Stephenson was recruited from VFL club North Ballarat and played a support role in most of his eight senior games, but more than held his own as the club's No 1 big man in the Cats' win against Hawthorn in round 19 at the MCG.
He was sacrificed when Geelong decided to recruit talented ruckman Hamish McIntosh from North Melbourne on a three-year contract during last month's player-exchange period.
Wood, who started his career at Brisbane where he played 16 games in three seasons after being taken in the first round of the 2004 national draft, played another 48 matches for the Magpies, including six this year.
After trading Angus Graham to Adelaide last month, the only other ruckman currently at Punt Road is Tom Derickx, who has been on Richmond's list for two years and is contracted until the end of next year.
Derickx, 25, made his debut this year, but played only two games before returning to the VFL.
An Achilles tendon injury will prevent former Melbourne forward Ricky Petterd from training with Richmond over the next few weeks, but the Tigers will still consider him in the rookie draft.
Petterd, 24, was delisted by the Demons last month after kicking 55 goals in 54 games.
Petterd has overcome several setbacks in his career, but none more serious than when his life was threatening by a collapsed lung against Carlton in 2007.
Richmond players will start serious pre-season programs this week, with only Brett Deledio (knee), recruit Troy Chaplin (knee) and Jake King missing or on restricted work due to surgery.
The Tigers will use their first four national draft selections - picks four, 32, 34 and 42 - on Thursday week on the Gold Coast.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-throw-back-up-lifeline-to-ruckmen-cameron-wood-and-orren-stephenson/story-fnca0u4y-1226515412950
