Daniel Rioli, Liam Baker set to attend Richmond best-and-fairest, St Kilda snubs Josh Battle

Matthew Richardson said he thought club president John O’Rourke was having ‘a bit of a dig’ at departing stars Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli at the club’s best and fairest. WATCH THE VIDEO

Richmond legend Matthew Richardson says there was “no doubt” Tigers president John O’Rourke was having a “bit of a dig” at departing premiership stars during his much-discussed speech at the club’s best and fairest count on Monday night.

Richardson, who won the Jack Dyer Medal in 2007 and attended this year’s count on Monday night, said the club was clearly disappointed to be losing two contracted players in Bolton and Rioli and that was reflected in O’Rourke’s speech.

Bolton has requested a trade home to Western Australia, despite having four years to go on a contract he signed in December 2022.

Rioli is set to join the Gold Coast Suns, despite having three years left on a contract he signed in August 2022.

O’Rourke praised experienced defender Nathan Broad for remaining loyal and signing a new two-year deal with the club last month, at a time when the Tigers are preparing to lose Bolton and Rioli as well as out-of-contract duo Liam Baker and Jack Graham.

“I think Nathan Broad had a two-year offer from North Melbourne,” Richardson said on 3AW radio.

“So Broad has shown some loyalty and he (O’Rourke) came out and spoke openly about that.

“I think it is a little bit of a dig, probably more at Bolton and Rioli who have got long-term contracts. I think when players sign long-term deals, you probably expect to see them get towards the end of them. Both of them have got a lot of years left on those deals.

Matthew Richardson with fellow former Tiger Jack Riewoldt in Tasmania. Picture: Grant Viney

“So, yeah, I think there was no doubt he was having a little bit of a go at that. Maybe not so Baker. He’s out of contract and I think once you get to that point and you want to go home, which he wants to, to Western Australia, I don’t think you can begrudge him too much. The other ones probably disappoint the club a fair bit, I would suggest.”

O’Rourke also praised VFL coach Steve Morris during his speech, who has been promoted to an AFL assistant coaching role next year.

Morris replaces former Carlton coach David Teague, who has reportedly been courted by Melbourne as the Demons look to fill coaching vacancies left by newly-appointed West Coast coach Andrew McQualter and the departing Greg Stafford.

RICHMOND PRESIDENT GIVES DEPARTING STARS A CLIP

Richmond president John O’Rourke has handed some departing premiership stars a backhander in a not-so-subtle speech delivered at the Tigers’ best and fairest count on Tuesday night.

O’Rourke acknowledged it had been an “extremely difficult and disappointing season”, but praised the loyalty of senior Tigers players who were sticking around to help with “guiding our young players through this next phase of growth”.

“Just by way of example … how fortunate are we to have players of the character of a Nathan Broad?” O’Rourke asked during his speech.

“He is a player who was drafted into an era of, well, immediate club success as a mature-age player. I know through this year, I’m sure he could have explored options to see out his career in his home state, or perhaps look for more lucrative options with other clubs, but he chose to extend for a further two years.”

Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli have both requested to leave Punt Rd. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

O’Rouke went on to read a quote from Broad when he signed on in early September, in which the defender said: “No-one really wanted me as a 22-year-old, but Richmond did. So, I’m fully indebted to this club and I’m looking to get us back up the ladder, which is exciting.”

The president finished the quote by stating of Broad: “What a Richmond man”.

The speech was seemingly a swipe at other senior players who are set to depart the club in this year’s free agency and trade periods.

The Tigers are preparing to lose contracted pair Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton, along with out-of-contract duo Liam Baker and Jack Graham.

Bolton and Baker are both West Australians – like Broad – who are eyeing moves back to their home state.

O’Rourke also backed coach Adem Yze after the first-year coach managed just two wins in an injury-hit first season at the helm.

“I do want to make it very clear tonight that our board is 100 per cent behind Adem and our football department leaders Blair Hartley and Tim Livingstone,” O’Rourke said.

Richmond coach Adam Yze with president John O'Rourke. Photo by Michael Klein.

“They will be given the clear air now to own and put their stamp on the next generation of the Richmond Football Club. I’m sure, in fact I know, our fans are really sharing in the excitement of the players that have emerged this year, by the players that will return from long-term injury in 2025 and the multiple opportunities that we may have to draft in new talent later this year.”

It was also revealed at the best and fairest that multiple Richmond players were hospitalised after an end-of-season trip to Thailand last week.

The trip was cut short after many members of the group suffered serious cases of food poisoning.

“A few of the boys have been in hospital and things like that, so it’s been not only a tough season, but a tough off-season so far,” Yze said.

“But, to their credit, they’ve come back, I think, a little bit lighter. Nick Vlastuin was adamant he’d come back four or five kilos lighter, which is unusual when you come back from a footy trip, so well done.”

Richmond to welcome wantaway stars to B&F

Richmond’s departing stars Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton and Liam Baker will front up at the club’s Jack Dyer Medal on Tuesday night as they seek to leave the club on good terms.

In a week when St Kilda told departing free agent Josh Battle not to come to the club’s best and fairest night, the Tigers are keen for their stars to front up.

Rioli is set to find his way to Gold Coast and he could end up winning the Jack Dyer Medal on Tuesday night.

He and Nick Vlastuin both had excellent seasons but Rioli was extremely consistent and had 536 disposals this year.

Daniel Rioli could win the Jack Dyer Medal before joining Gold Coast. Picture: Michael Klein

St Kilda told Josh Battle not to attend its best and fairest. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Baker is a club vice-captain and goes with the blessing of coach Adem Yze, who has been impeccable in his handling of Baker’s contract dramas.

He repeatedly told Baker he wanted to give his all as a leader and clubman and would accept his decision either way as an uncontracted player.

Imagine if Josh Battle won the Saints B&F and had to make a victory speech

— NAGA (@Ash9Fran) September 30, 2024

Bolton is contracted and the club has told him it would take an “extraordinary” deal to get to the Dockers.

But Fremantle is prepared to hand over one of nine or 10 and the club’s No. 16 draft pick to get him to the Dockers so the Tigers will receive fair value.

He has told the club he wants to go home if he can get a trade done so he can be closer to family and friends given he and his partner are expecting their second child.