Tigers set sights on signing key pair before season startsJennifer Phelan
afl.com.au
October 20, 2014 4:22 PMRICHMOND is aiming to open contract talks with captain Trent Cotchin and defender Alex Rance to ensure they are locked away by the end of the pre-season, well before they become free agents next year.
While talks are yet to start with the management of either player, the Tigers would like things sewn up by the time pre-season wraps up in March.
Cotchin, 24, signed his last extension of two years on May 29, 2013, and said then he opted for a shorter contract to keep his motivation levels up.
But with the skipper set to become a restricted free agent in less than 12 months' time, the club is keen to progress talks to make sure its gun midfielder is signed, sealed and delivered before next season starts.
"We'll get to that when the time comes. We won't be making a running commentary on it," football manager Dan Richardson told AFL.com.au.
"There's been no discussion on either of them as yet but I'm sure there will be hopefully prior to the season starting.
"We'll work our way through that."
Cotchin played every game this season and capped it off with his third club best and fairest win earlier this month.
In an interview with the club's website, he recently said there was a chance he would play forward more in 2015 after successfully rotating from the midfield with the likes of Dustin Martin, Shane Edwards and Brett Deledio this season.
"I love it. It's nice to play deep. I probably needed to start moving a bit more. I was relying more on my strengths," Cotchin told Roar Vision.
"Hopefully, next year I'll get a little bit more of an opportunity again, and Dusty will probably have that capacity to play even more inside.
"Who knows, I might spend even more time down there. I love seeing a Robbie Gray and other midfielders who push forward and kick goals."
As for Rance, the defender made up for the five games he missed early this season with an extraordinary return to form.
Rance missed rounds two to six with a broken foot he sustained when he fell off a bike.
The 25-year-old went on to win his first All Australian selection after narrowly missing out last year and came equal sixth in the Jack Dyer medal count.
Richmond veteran Chris Newman – who will be the Tigers' only player over 30 next season – and Nathan Foley will also become free agents next year.
Newman signed a one-year extension in August after he briefly considered retirement mid-season after battling a calf injury.
Foley's contract was extended at the end of 2012 for three years while he was midway through his rehabilitation from a torn achilles tendon.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-10-20/tigers-working-on-new-deals
