Sheahan Ink: Richmond star Josh Caddy spotted leaving friend Nadia Bartel’s home on Sunday morning

A current Richmond star has been seen leaving Nadia Bartel’s lavish new home one Sunday morning, with friends saying the pair enjoys “each other’s company”.

AFL player Josh Caddy aroused suspicion recently when spies said he was spotted leaving an exclusive address in the up-market suburb of Windsor.

Tigers star Josh Caddy.

An eagle-eyed observer spotted the Richmond star leaving the home of influencer and businesswoman Nadia Bartel one Sunday morning.

The blonde haired bachelor took off from Bartel’s new digs in his Mercedes apparently with paps hot in pursuit of a scoop.

Alas a Caddy insider confirmed to Sheahan Ink the high profile pair are not romantic and never have been.

“They’re just friends,” the female confidante told us.

It’s believed the pair catch up regularly in private but quite literally just “enjoy each other’s company”.

Bartel moved into the home after selling the St Kilda West house she shared with her ex husband Jimmy and their two kids.

Caddy and the Bartels paths crossed some six years ago when Caddy was playing at Geelong alongside Jimmy.

Sheahan Ink checked in with Caddy’s management who told us Nadia and Josh said ‘hi’ but that’s the extent of the relationship.

DUSTY’S GOLD COAST RECOVERY

Dustin Martin is recovering from a lacerated kidney on the Gold Coast recuperating at the apartment of local rugby star Kevin Procter.

Martin ended up in intensive care after a sickening collision with Brisbane Lion Mitch Robinson at the Gabba back in Round 18.

The Brownlow medallist has been spotted with Procter in and around Burleigh Heads.

The pair becoming mates during Procter’s days as a Melbourne Storm star before he was traded to the Titans.

Dustin Martin is recovering from a lacerated kidney on the Gold Coast.

The movie, Gold Dust, based on Martin’s life is currently on hold as coronavirus cripples the east coast of Australia and his body heals from the serious injury.

“I’m on the mend, hoping to get home soon so I can get into the club and support the boys,” Martin said on Twitter.

WALKER’S SUSPENSION A WASTE

Taylor Walker’s suspension for racially vilifying an opposition player has come under fire from many in the AFL industry.

The Adelaide Crows star accepted the six game, $20,000 sanction after it was revealed he abused North Adelaide player Robbie Young during a Crows reserves match on July 17.

Walker wasn’t playing in the match but made the comment to a Crows teammate who was playing.

And while many in the AFL industry deem the penalty to be harsh, some say Walker is given leniency by the powers that be.

Former Adelaide Crows recruiter Matthew Rendell was let go by the club for a comment that was deemed racist by a jealous colleague wanting to throw him ‘under the bus’.

Rendell lost his job after saying; “You might find we only recruit players with one white parent if it’s not addressed now”. That was nine years ago.

Taylor Walker has been suspended for racially vilifying an opposition player has come under fire from many in the AFL industry.

So how do we find ourselves in 2021 allowing a ‘good bloke’ to behave in such a manner without appropriate consequences?

Rendell didn’t entertain our advances when Sheahan Ink asked him for comment.

Suffice to say, many wise heads in the AFL world thought Walker’s sanction was laughable when we have so much education now on racism and cultural diversity.

One club executive said he was stunned given the AFL’s history with Adam Goodes, the continual harassment of Eddie Betts, Rendell and the mediation between Sam Newman, Mike Sheahan and Nicky Winmar we could still find ourselves in this position.

Another football head asked whether the person who stood up to Walker while others had been too afraid to come forward against a powerful figurehead at the Crows.

So many questions, so few answers.

MUMFORD’S GOLDEN JOB PROSPECTS

Agent to the stars Ricky Nixon has labelled GWS Giants enforcer Shane Mumford the next Neil Balme suggesting a new career for the AFL ruckman.

Nixon says Mumford is in high demand from opposition clubs for a potential off-field role in 2022.

A return to the boxing ring also isn’t off the cards for ‘Mummy’ after a successful debut back in November 2018 with an unblemished record from two fights.

Promoter Brian Armatruda is looking for Mumford’s next opponents and is very supportive of his return to the sport.

Potential bouts with former NRL stars Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams have been mentioned, which would be billed as a cross code sporting rivalry between rugby and Aussie rules.

Ricky Nixon labelled GWS Giants enforcer Shane Mumford the next Neil Balme.

According to Nixon, who looks after his affairs, Mumford’s ‘presence’ is one trait many in the AFL world relish, hence the comparisons with Balme, Richmond’s highly regarded head of football.

“It’s all about presence and having presence in the AFL world and to make young kids stand up and walk taller and I can’t think of a better figure than Neil Balme, who’s had success at Geelong, Collingwood and now Richmond,” Nixon said.

“Balme also knows how to manage personalities.

“I’ve had a couple of AFL clubs contact me asking if I think Shane would make for a good football manager and I think he would.

Mumford is believed to have a ruck coach role waiting for him at the Giants next year if he is to hang up the boots.

DIESEL BACKS CLARKO FOR BLUES

Carlton legend Greg Diesel Williams has backed his old club to hire Alastair Clarkson as its new coach.

Williams was asked during the week whether then North Melbourne player Clarkson’s rough conduct during the ‘Battle of Britain’ and his hit on Blues defender Ian Aitken would affect the club’s pursuit of the legendary Hawthorn coach.

“I think it’s that long ago that I don’t think it’s going to be an issue,” Williams said.

The Blues’ Brownlow medallist spoke on behalf of the former club champions and said he wasn’t aware of any former teammate opposed to ‘Clarko’ coaching Carlton.

“I haven’t got any qualms with it.”

Carlton legend Greg Diesel Williams wants Clarkson as his club’s next coach.

Clarkson is now on the open market after severing ties with the Hawthorn, many believing the Blues’ are in the market for his services.

Williams said the ugly Battle of Britain may have been caused by the opposing clubs differing views of the exhibition match.

“I know a few blokes who were in that game in 1987 and I know for a fact Carlton went there for a holiday, to play an exhibition game and drink and have fun and play the game.

“I think North Melbourne was the opposite where they were revved up with the coach of North Melbourne revving them up to treat the game really importantly,” he said.

The late AFL legend John Kennedy Snr was then coach of North Melbourne.

“It was just unfortunate how it ended up,” 57-year-old Williams said.

STEVENS DIPS HIS TOE INTO POLITICS

Victorian Liberal party media man Mark Stevens has ruled out a move to run for the seat of Shepparton.

The former 7 News sports journalist recently joined the party to run party leader Michael O’Brien’s media campaign, but a taste of the political life has seen Stevens consider dipping his toe in the water and try for the top job in his former home town.

A Liberal party person said Stevens was focused on the state election next November backing in his new boss O’Brien, but wouldn’t rule out a run in the future.

REMEMBERING T-SHIRT TOMMY

Thursday would have been Tom Hafey’s 90th birthday.

The VFL/AFL legend was born August 5, 1931 and passed away in May 2014.

Hafey played 67 games for Richmond before amassing 522 as coach with four clubs, Collingwood, Richmond, Geelong & Sydney.

T-shirt Tommy, as he was known, will go down as one of the greatest identities in the history of our game.