Rookie plan puts Tiger Graham Polak at mercy of draftMark Stevens
October 22, 2009 11:30pmGRAHAM Polak is still facing the likely prospect of being delisted by Richmond.
Even if the Tigers decide to retain the 29-year-old as a mature-age rookie, Polak must first be cut from the list.
Richmond does not have the option of automatically demoting Polak to rookie status and must redraft him if it decides he is not worthy of a place on the primary list.
Polak would be at the mercy of other clubs, with no guarantee that he would find his way back to Punt Rd.
Although it is unlikely, another club could select Polak in the rookie draft, bringing Richmond's plan undone.
The prospect of a one-year deal and a rookie berth are not regarded as ideal by the Polak camp.
It looms as a messy process and Polak and his manager Paul Connors are known to be intent on fighting for a spot on the list proper.
Polak's only focus at the moment is avoiding rookie demotion and the potential pitfalls of the draft.
Richmond football chief Craig Cameron said yesterday he had not spoken to Polak and his management about the "different machinations" of Polak being rookie-listed.
"The bottom line is, for that to happen we would have to expose him to the draft," Cameron said.
Discussions are set to start next week, with both Polak and Connors on holidays, but Cameron is adamant there has been no talk of a one-year deal.
"We haven't sat down and discussed it yet," Cameron said.
While the Tigers remain non-committal on Polak's future, a delisting is the most likely scenario as the club embarks on a mission of rebuilding based on youth.
If he is delisted, as expected, Polak would also have the option of nominating for the national draft rather than waiting for Richmond, and its promised selection, in the later rookie draft.
Polak suffered a life-threatening brain injury after being hit by a tram 16 months ago, but bravely returned to the playing field.
He began his AFL comeback in August when he played against Hawthorn in Round 21.
Polak is keen to remain in Melbourne despite family in Perth.
Richmond has the option of taking Polak into next season as a mature-age rookie after the AFL Commission on Monday approved an expansion of the rookie system.
The Tigers, supportive of Polak throughout his recovery, are keen to continue their association with the key-position player, who continues to improve despite initial fears he would never play again.
Richmond has performed regular medical tests on Polak and has been buoyed by his progress, but he still faces a challenge to again become a regular senior player.
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