Is anyone else starting to get sick of this? This excruciating wait. This is starting to shape up as an Ablett/Scully situation, where we will spend the whole year speculating about him. We've had threads on this before, and I understand his management want to try to get him on the best deal they can. And if that's with fishing around to other clubs to see what they have to offer, then fine. That's within his rights. But if he wants to stay a Tiger, then the least he could do is put the fans minds at rest and say "I want to stay at Richmond. Just have a few things to work out." That way he is saying he wants to be a Tiger, without being specific about what is going on.

It was announced early last year that he was in contract talks. Surely I cannot be the only one who is sick to death of this wait.

And so it starts.

Club needs to learn from the Scully & Ablett issues. How do you acknowledge that a player may potentially leave, without fanning the media flames?

Perhaps it stems from our hunger as supporters and the easy way any journo can get a Richmond story all of this season? All you need to do is ask the club or Lids - Any plans for 2013, and bang, the story is written. Perhaps we as supporters need to be just like Gimme - the decision shall be what it shall be, and while we'd love him to stay, we just shouldn't care? Don't read/ignore/comment on his future?

Personally I reckon he'll stay as we can afford to match salary and, best of all, the club's heading in the right direction.

However if he leaves what's the worse thing that can happen... firstly we'll end up with good draft compensation (probably 2 picks) in a super draft year, and secondly we'll have a stack of spare salary cap space to lure another gun across. Not a bad result really.... we lose a gun but could end up with 2 great draft picks and another gun!!!

It's all very well to say that we shouldnt be worried or that we shouldnt get sucked in. But come on. You cant honestly tell me you arent even a little concerned he might leave. He is arguably our best player, and his impact on the field can be damaging. Especially with him returning to the midfield this season.

I guess we will see what happens this season, but I for one know that the longer this drags on the more likely it is he will leave.

Obviously no team ca guarrantee finals, but I think as long as we continue on an upward spiral in 2012, then that would be enough for him to stay. 2013 onwards is for us anyway.

Jon Ralph just said he'll wait to see what offers come in then rfc will match them. He'll stay I reckon.

He owes it to himself to get the most $$$ he can...

Bored now.

Fnuh!
Ms Tantie.
xox

Any manager worth their salt will hang out for a better deal. Hopefully, this is all this is about. A storm in a tea cup perhaps!

If Lids wants to play finals so badly, he can bloody well get into the middle and get us there!
I think you're right, Vines. He's just looking for the best deal.. I like to think I'd be content on half a million or whatever he gets, but maybe he wants a yacht or something.
I'm not au fait with the whole free agency situation as it effects salary caps.. but as long as giving him what he wants doesn't impact on us nabbing a "big fish" for next year, I don't see the problem.

Storm in a tea cup for mine.

If he wants to play finals then how would he go to GWS. Could only be the money. If so he is not committed to Richmond even right now.

So to play finals he would need to go to one of the top 4 clubs if that is the case. Under restricted free agency we can match any offer and we are supposed to be cashed up. So can't see that being a problem.

So I see this folding out as Deledio fields offers from the top clubs, we match the offers he signs on for another teo years which takes him to Unrestricted free agency and in two years time he is going to know for more certain whether Richmond has a realistic finals chance (if we haven't already played finals in 2012 and 2013 that is )

Ok move on now

Gawnski !...See ya Lids , thanks for the service.


Sent from my Atari

This is a hard one, other clubs will view him as a worthwhile target in the restricted free agency pool but they also might see it as a chance to reduce the cash we have to go out and raid other clubs.

I think that Magic17 may just be on to something, if other clubs push up his price at what point do we say the compo draft pick and extra cash in the bank is worth more to the club than Lids? Lids would attract a very good compo pick or perhaps 2 judging by the ablett/scully deals do we put a value on that to the club? or is keeping Lids in the structure a better option?

What do people think?

Do you get a compo draft pick if a player goes under the free agency rule?

This is the way it is going to be every other year from now on.
Getting use to it is going to be hard for a lot of people and i don't think it's a good thing for the game if people can't feel emotionally attached to players because they may disappear at the end of the any season. That has to hurt Clubs. It's that emotional attachment that lures people to the game and kids to wear their hero's jumpers. What happens to the clubs that don't have a 'Visy', 'Emorites', etc to sweeten the deals and keep their high profile players.
I hope i'm over reacting but it smells like Manchester United/Collingwood syndrome, which would ruin our game. Same clubs in the finals year in year out, Same clubs struggling to survive.
Imagine what it would have done to our supporter base if Richo had left when he was eligible. At that time it may have crushed our membership.
If Deledio goes, he goes. He owes the club nothing. But will draft picks or money replace the investment of club and that of the hearts of their supporters.

Geek.

I reckon Lids should be commended. He has laid down the law and said 'we must play finals'. He is raising the bar and making people notice that at least some of the players have a burning passion to be playing come September.

Let's hope that this passion is contagious and the rest of the boys catch it.

Unless we start very badly, Lids will be a Tiger next year.