STAR TIGER IN FOR THE LONG HAULRichmond recruit Tim Taranto has reportedly begun talks with teammates looking elsewhere beyond 2024, as the club continues its rebuild after a dynastic run.
Herald Sun journalist Glenn McFarlane discussed Taranto’s strong feelings towards bringing the Punt Road side back to its best in a few years’ time alongside some key players at the club.
“There’s a number of people who have been speaking about the potential of being on the move at the end of the year – you’ve got Dan Rioli, Dustin Martin, Liam Baker … what I can tell you is that Tim Taranto is already trying to get some words in with some of these guys,” McFarlane begun by saying on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“He’s actually urging them to stick together, that ‘we need to stick together as a part of this, we need to help lead this footy club back – it’s going to be a long road, but we want to be a competitive force’; he’s pleading them in a sense”.
“How is he going to discuss this with Dustin Martin!” fellow Herald Sun reporter Scotty Gullan joked.
Liam Baker has been heavily linked back to Western Australia – specifically West Coast – while pair Dustin Martin and Daniel Rioli have been speculated to join Gold Coast after strong interest.
“Tim Taranto’s the future captain of this club, absolutely – lock that in for a few years time. He’s trying to talk them into what (Trent) Cotchin did, he stayed, (Jack) Riewoldt stayed – let’s hang around, let’s build something here,” McFarlane continued.
“There’s an element of frustration; there’s absolutely no doubt that he’s frustrated with where they’re at, at the moment … he’s saying he wants to stay there, he wants to see out this contract, he believes in this footy club.”
Martin and Baker run out of contract at the end of the year, while Daniel Rioli is contracted at Richmond until the end of 2027.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/future-captain-urges-teammates-to-stay-crafty-blues-future-up-in-the-air-trade-whispers/news-story/31ae745a232132373ad22e63cab4c280
