Richmond leads in the chase for Polak
Jake Niall
The Age
September 21, 2006
RICHMOND heads the list of clubs interested in acquiring Fremantle's under-utilised key position player Graham Polak.
Polak has attracted strong interest from Melbourne clubs, with the Tigers — who are in need of key-position players at both ends, particularly in defence — confirming that they are prepared to look at Polak at the right price.
Polak's attractiveness to clubs is based largely on the facts that he is young, has struggled for a game at Fremantle this year and there is always a dearth of key position players. Melbourne and the Bulldogs have also made inquiries about him.
While the Tigers are interested in Polak, who could provide a long-term replacement for Darren Gaspar and Andrew Kellaway, they are not willing to part with their first draft choice, pick No. 8.
Asked whether they were interested in trading for Polak, Richmond coach Terry Wallace said: "Through Greg Miller, we will look at all available options, but we have a very strong policy in regards to what we're prepared to give away. We've always sort of said that first-round draft selections are not now in our equation."
Fremantle, mindful that Polak could be lost cheaply because he is uncontracted, have indicated their desire to retain Polak.
Polak has not, as yet, been courted by Carlton, which has the first selection in the pre-season draft for uncontracted players and could acquire Polak for nothing.
Polak played in Fremantle's round-22 team against Port Adelaide and was a late withdrawal from the team that defeated Melbourne last Friday. He was among the 25-man squad that flew to Sydney yesterday.
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