Local footy powerhouses line up to sign retired Richmond star Josh Caddy

Local footy powers from across Melbourne are lining up to sign retired Richmond premiership star Josh Caddy and the offers are eye-watering.

Josh Caddy in action for Richmond.

It’s a local footy feeding frenzy.

Suburban football powerhouses from every corner of Victoria are lining up for a chance to sign retired Richmond premiership star Josh Caddy.

The two-time premiership-winning Tiger hung up the boots on Thursday, effective immediately, and is expected to join a local club in the next week.

Match payments of as much as $8000 and other lucrative offers have been rumoured.

Some of the biggest clubs in metropolitan and country football are vying for his services with one amateur offer reportedly set to “blow everything else out of the water”.

Josh Caddy in action for Richmond.

The likes of Vermont, Deer Park, Aberfeldie, Balwyn, Keilor as well as Albury, Wangaratta Rovers and Seymour are touted as possible destinations.

The VAFA Premier Division is awash with ex-AFL and current VFL players at the likes of St Kevin’s, University Blues, Collegians and Old Xaverians.

However, Caddy hails from the northern suburbs putting Northern Football League clubs in the box seat.

The hard-nosed midfielder is an Eltham junior, while his brother Saul was a star at North Heidelberg and Heidelberg.

Meanwhile, Caddy’s nephew Nate – a current AFL Draft prospect – debuted for Bundoora last week.

The Bulls have Sam Lloyd, David Zaharakis and Neville Jetta on the books and would face a points squeeze if they added Caddy but are said to be firmly in the conversation.

Heidelberg signed ex-Collingwood midfielder Brayden Sier and has the points and cap space to add Caddy in a dream one-two onball combination.

The Tigers also have a family connection through president Tim Wilson.

Montmorency has had an outstanding off-season with Lin Jong and Mitch Honeychurch arriving and still has points with work with.

Greensborough is also a big chance having played with just 31 of an available 46 player points on Saturday.

North Heidelberg has points and cap space and would be desperate to add some star power after losing three of its opening four games.

Caddy is fully fit after overcoming persistent soft-tissue injuries that have limited him to 17 AFL games in 2020-21 and just two VFL games this season.

Eltham faces an uphill battle as a Division 2 club but president Michael Smith said the club would get on the front foot for a club junior.

DIV 1: NORTHCOTE PARK BREAKS 994-DAY WIN DROUGHT

LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE

VFL: COBURG BLOW AS STAR RETIRES MID-SEASON

The Panthers lost Collingwood premiership midfielder Brent Macaffer over the summer and Caddy would be the ideal replacement as they chase promotion back to the top tier.

The onballer is said to be fit enough to play this weekend if a clearance is processed in time.

Caddy called time on his AFL career after 174 matches with Gold Coast, Geelong and Richmond.

Originally drafted with the No.7 pick by the Suns out of the Northern Knights, he was traded to the Cats and then Tigers, playing in the 2017 and 2019 flags.