Gaspar, Kellaway may join exodus of senior Tigers
Rohan Connolly
The Age
August 29, 2006
RICHMOND is poised to part company with up to four of its most senior players, with two veterans expected to retire today and at least one and possibly two more having been told their time at Punt Road is up.
Ruckman Greg Stafford and defender Mark Chaffey are expected to announce their retirements at a press conference at Punt Road today after both decided they'd had enough of AFL football.
But key defenders Andrew Kellaway and Darren Gaspar may be less willing casualties of the Tigers' review of its senior list.
Stafford, a former Swan who played in the 1996 grand final and has spent the past five seasons at Punt Road, reached his 200th game against the Western Bulldogs three weeks ago and hinted at his retirement when he reached that milestone.
Chaffey, who confirmed to the club yesterday that he would not be going on in 2007, thrived under the coaching of Terry Wallace last year, but has struggled all through 2006 after a groin injury hampered his pre-season, with his battle to make up for lost time resulting in him not being selected in the senior team until round 17.
But the situation regarding Kellaway and Gaspar is more problematic. Richmond remained tight-lipped on the potential axings last night, coach Terry Wallace refusing to confirm what would be a big clean-out of the Tigers' senior core.
"We've got one game to play and we'll deal with delistings and things like that once the season has finished," Wallace said.
But it is believed the club has told both players their careers are on the line. Gaspar's controversial five-year deal with Richmond, worth $500,000 a season before he took a pay cut, ends this season, resulting in the defender being the subject of much speculation.
Gaspar's manager Ron Joseph met Richmond director of football Greg Miller yesterday in an attempt to negotiate a new deal for the 2001 best-and-fairest winner and two-time All-Australian.
The dour key backman had a fine 2005, finishing fourth in the best and fairest, but has struggled throughout 2006, managing only eight games, his season ended by knee cartilage damage for which he had surgery before round 17.
But Kellaway would be a more surprising casualty, the courageous defender having played 15 of 16 games this season before straining a hamstring while surfing — an injury from which he was due to return this week.
The 2000 best-and-fairest winner, who won All-Australian honours the same year, has played 172 games with the club since 1998.
If all four players are finished, Richmond will have lost more than 750 matches of senior experience in one hit, Gaspar and Stafford two of only four Tigers in a young and developing list to have played more than 200 matches.
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