RICHMOND is hopeful skipper Trent Cotchin’s decision to avoid a year of contract speculation sets a standard for his out-of-contract teammates.
Fresh from Cotchin’s new five-year deal, the Tigers will turn their attention to negotiations with Alex Rance and Dustin Martin.
The club is hopeful it can sign a number of key deals over summer, potentially freeing up resources for a push to lure a big name recruit.
All the while, Richmond knows securing its own crop of talent will avoid distractions internally at a club where distractions have been a regular concern.
Rance, in particular, has been linked with a potential return to his home state of Western Australia.
But after his All Australian selection in 2014, the club is hopeful he’ll stay at Punt Road.
The Tigers will also be keen to avoid a repeat of the drama surrounding Martin’s last contract negotiations, when he walked out on the club and was spotted touring Greater Western Sydney's facilities.
“They’re both terrific players, no doubt, and if I was another club I’d certainly be looking at them closely as well,” Richmond football boss Dan Richardson said on SEN in reference to Cotchin and Rance.
Richardson is well aware the pair could be targeted but is hopeful the highly respected Cotchin has set a standard.
“We can’t control what other clubs do, it’s obviously their business.
“When the time’s appropriate we’ll certainly start working on their contracts, and hopefully they’ll follow the lead that the skipper’s set.
