The prevailing view is that the Tigers will cut their losses before the start of 2017 and reach a settlement........
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/failure-to-reach-fitness-levels-puts-chris-yarrans-future-at-richmond-in-doubt-20161027-gscd9n.htmlChris Yarran's future at Richmond remains in serious doubt with the 25-year-old still struggling to reach the fitness levels demanded by the Tigers after a long lay-off from the game.
Although the club accepts Yarran is genuinely attempting to make a comeback he has struggled to lose weight and has returned to Melbourne for the second year running in less-than-ideal condition for an early assault on the pre-season.
Chris Yarran's future at Richmond remains in serious doubt with the 25-year-old still struggling to reach the fitness levels demanded by the Tigers after a long lay-off from the game.
Although the club accepts Yarran is genuinely attempting to make a comeback he has struggled to lose weight and has returned to Melbourne for the second year running in less-than-ideal condition for an early assault on the pre-season.
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The prevailing view is that the Tigers will cut their losses before the start of 2017 and reach a settlement with Yarran who remains contracted to the club until the end of 2018.
Yarran has been working with VFL footballer Tom Couch, the son of the late Brownlow medallist Paul Couch, who he has hired as a personal trainer. The pair travelled to Thailand in September where Yarran enrolled in an intensive training camp focusing on kick boxing.
More recently Couch travelled to Western Australia to work with Yarran, who has also battled a recent hamstring issue, in a bid to prepare him for a pre-season return. Yarran was spotted training in Melbourne on Thursday, running around the Tan after returning from Perth on Wednesday night.
The Tigers had high hopes for Yarran who came from Carlton in return for pick 19 at the end of 2015. But despite denials at the time he arrived at the club unfit and overweight and in a bid to fast-track his return to elite shape suffered a foot injury requiring surgery on the eve of the season.
Family and mental health problems saw Richmond grant the player personal leave in May. Since then he has journeyed several times to WA to deal with his family issues.
Despite Richmond's significant disappointment in the Yarran saga the player's manager Paul Connors has remained complimentary of the club's handling of the difficult issue and the understanding and patience afforded him from football lieutenant Daniel Richardson.
Connors and the club remain in daily contact regarding Yarran's progress. Both parties now regret that a more specifically tailored training regime was not put in place for the highly-talented player, who achieved 119 games for Carlton despite the notable personal obstacles he faced, some years ago.
Yarran has at this stage committed to report early for pre-season at Punt Road on November 7 with Richmond's first and second-year players.
