Richmond premiership player Brandon Ellis to put contract talks on hold

Richmond free agent Brandon Ellis won’t discuss a new contract with the Tigers until at least after the bye round after generating strong interest from rival clubs during the trade period at the end of last season.

Brandon Ellis will put contract talks with Richmond on hold. Picture: Michael Klein

Richmond premiership star Brandon Ellis will put off contract talks until at least the bye round after strong interest from rivals in last year’s trade period.

Ellis was twice dropped last season — including for the finals series — but only turns 26 this August having played 153 games.

In a thin free agency market this year he could draw multiple suitors looking for run-and-carry players.

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He was dropped to the VFL in Rounds 6-9 last year to refine his contested ball and aerial skills but believed he had won back his spot for the finals.

Instead he was dropped again when Kane Lambert returned from injury for the qualifying final.

Brandon Ellis will put contract talks with Richmond on hold. Picture: Michael Klein

Ellis missed only one game in Richmond’s premiership season as a defender but has been training as a midfielder this pre-season.

In a best-case scenario he will return to his best form and prove to Richmond he is worth a significant long-term contract.

But in one of the thinnest free agency markets since its inception, his contract talks will likely drift until the end of the season.

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Richmond chose not to act on any trade requests from multiple clubs in October, believing he was part of their best side.

But the Tigers are one of a number of clubs with strong salary cap pressures given their addition of Tom Lynch over the off-season.

In other looming free agency interest, West Coast Eagle Brad Sheppard’s management is planning to meet with the club later this week to begin discussions on a new deal.

Ellis in action during a Richmond pre-season training session. Picture: Getty

Bulldogs premiership defender Joel Hamling also becomes a free agent despite only two years at Fremantle under a change to AFL rules.

AFLPA player relations general manager Brett Murphy confirmed the league had ticked off free agency for life for players after selecting it as one of three options for 2019.

“Any player who has ever been a delisted free agent before will be a free agent again at the end of their current contract,’’ he said.

Hawthorn continues to be strongly linked to GWS midfielder Stephen Coniglio, who joins Adam Tomlinson as a 2019 free agent at GWS.

The Hawks believed they nearly stole Tom Lynch away from Richmond late last season and would have cap space despite securing ex-Port Adelaide forward Chad Wingard.

Carlton also have an interest in Coniglio but GWS boss David Matthews told the Herald Sun this week the Giants expected to retain him and Josh Kelly.