Richmond star Brett Deledio's Punt Road future uncertainSam McClure
The Age
14th September 2016Brett Deledio's future at Richmond remains in doubt amidst suggestions the veteran is disenchanted with the club following the Tigers' dismal 2016.
Deledio's manager, Anthony McConville, has refused to confirm or deny whether the 29-year-old would consider playing elsewhere in 2017, despite one year remaining on his five-year contract, understood to be worth $3 million.
The shake-up at Tigerland, which accompanied the team's on-field capitulation has placed coach Damien Hardwick under growing pressure and forced a number of significant personnel changes at the club.
While Monday's appointment of Neil Balme to the helm of the football department ended weeks of speculation surrounding those changes, reports of player dissatisfaction have continued.
Fairfax Media understands Deledio has been seriously considering his future having been repeatedly linked to trade talk.
The two-time Jack Dyer Medallist, who turns 30 next April, is believed to have become disillusioned with the club's fortunes and could be open to offers from other clubs.
Deledio played just 11 games this year after more problems with his troublesome Achilles.
When contacted this week, McConville repeatedly refused to make any comment surrounding Deledio's future.
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said he had no knowledge of Deledio's disenchantment and said he expected Deledio would remain at Punt Road next season.
Teammate Jack Riewoldt was emphatic at the Best-and-Fairest count last week that Deledio had no plans to depart the club he has played at for the past 12 seasons.
And yet Deledio's name continues to surface in pre-trade speculation, with preliminary finalists Geelong and Greater Western Sydney believed to be keeping a close eye on the situation.
Riewoldt is another key player who has voiced his dissatisfaction as Richmond's disappointing 2016 moved to an embarrassing finale.
As suggestions of player concern with the Tigers' coaches continue to surround the club, Richmond have already released three assistant coaches with further changes expected.
Daniel Richardson will now report to new football boss Balme in one of a raft of changes, which included a recruiting shake-up and changes to the high performance team.
The club will also put in place a new leadership program, following the acrimonious departure of Gerard Murphy in May.
Deledio played all 22 games in his debut season in 2005 and his body has held up incredibly well for the vast majority of his career.
Despite missing five games in 2015 through injury and suspension, he was named All-Australian for the second time of his career.
He was significantly hampered by injury this season, managing just half the games - a loss that was strongly felt by his club, which has a terrible win/loss record when he's not in the team.
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