Ottens to tell Tigers: 'I'm out'
By Jake Niall
September 24, 2004
Richmond ruckman-forward Brad Ottens will tell the Tigers today of his wish to leave Punt Road and continue his 129-game career elsewhere.
Ottens, 24, who is out of contract and the subject of frenzied bidding from rival clubs, has indicated he wishes to play with either Geelong or Sydney next year.
He will tell the Tigers of his desire to be traded today when he speaks with Richmond football director Greg Miller.
Ottens, who has been in Bali, will leave Melbourne for Thailand within 24 hours of telling Richmond of his wish to find another club.
Sources last night said that contrary to speculation, Ottens' motivation for seeking a new club was not so much the prospect of a reduced salary - cash-strapped Richmond has offered him a significant reduction to his present contract - but his desire to rejuvenate his football career.
He is also believed to be concerned that, with the bottom-of-the-ladder Tigers committed to a rebuilding of the list that might take a few years, he faces the prospect of spending more years at a struggling club; Richmond has played finals only once in his seven seasons at Tigerland.
The ruckman and sometime forward has struggled since he hurt his back in 2002 after a stellar 2001 season in which he booted 46 goals.
Richmond is unlikely to agree to trade Ottens without significant compensation because as the team holding first pick in the pre-season draft (for uncontracted players), the Tigers can draft him back should he threaten to walk through to the pre-season draft. Ottens could, however, put a price on his head that would make it difficult for Richmond to re-draft him.
Whether he ultimately nominates Geelong or Sydney as his preferred destination, Ottens will get to his chosen club only via a trade.
Richmond has been fearful of losing Ottens and, recognising that its big-men stocks would be severely depleted without him, has been a strong bidder for Fremantle's uncontracted ruckman-forward Troy Simmonds.
Geelong midfielder David Spriggs has requested a trade to another club, but will be retained by the Cats if they are unable to strike a deal.
The Cats yesterday confirmed that Spriggs had reached "a mutual agreement" that he seek a new club, while they have offered one-year deals to veterans Ben Graham, Peter Riccardi and Brenton Sanderson.
Graham, Sanderson and Riccardi all have indicated their desire to continue their careers for at least another season.
The future of St Kilda veterans Justin Peckett and Andrew Thompson might not be settled until next month's trade period, while the club will hold further talks with Heath Black's management to determine whether he will remain at Moorabbin next year.
The Saints also are confident of re-contracting Luke Ball within a few days after his management met coach Grant Thomas yesterday.
Essendon has re-signed Damian Cupido to a one-year contract after a disappointing 2003. Cupido booted 36 goals for the Bombers in an encouraging first year at Essendon, but fell away this year following an early-season knee injury.
