Unsigned Collingwood speedster Joe Richards reportedly has a four-year deal on the table from Port Adelaide, with the Magpies' mature-aged draftee needing to make a call on his future in the coming months.
Richards was drafted to Collingwood in 2022 at the age of 22 from local Victorian club Wangaratta following a stellar campaign in the Ovens and Murray Football League as a scoring ball-winner.
The pacey Magpie was required to bide his time in his first season at Olympic Park, playing 14 games in the VFL while also dealing with injury issues.
Richards was handed an AFL debut in Round 9 of this season against West Coast and would have an instant impact at the top level, averaging 17.3 disposals and 1.00 goals per game across his first three matches.
His promotion under coach Craig McRae came as forward trio Beau McCreery, Jamie Elliott and Lachie Schultz were all unavailable due to either injury or suspension during the midriff of the year.
Richards has since fallen in and out of Collingwood's senior side this year to tally eight games in his second season in the black and white, with his aforementioned trio of teammates and Norm Smith Medal winner Bobby Hill preferred at selection.
Still off-contract this year, Richards' situation has led to external interest, with Port Adelaide linked to the midfield-forward hybrid in 2024.
According toย 7 Newsย reporter Mitch Cleary, the Power have offered Richards a long-term deal that is seen likely to trump any offer Collingwood would be willing to put forward.
"He's played eight games this year for Collingwood, he's coming to the end of his initial two-year draft contract, he turns 25 at the end of this year," Cleary said of Richards on theย Tradies Podcast.ย
"This is a guy who was drafted as a mature-ager. He's been offered a four-year deal by the Power and he's played eight AFL games.
"It shows that when the Power latch on to someone - they went hard at Ratugolea last year and got him - they're not mucking about.
"They're keen on some more small forwards, and Joe Richards is a guy they have identified. Collingwood's deal won't be anywhere near [the value of Port Adelaide's], so he's got a decision to make."
Port Adelaide's interest in Richards comes after the South Australian club missed out on forward targets Will Hayward, Ben Ainsworth and Tyson Stengle.
Fremantle and Essendon have previously been tied to the unsigned Magpie, however the latter are now destined to attain exciting NGA talent Isaac Kako through this year's National Draft, while Fremantle could bolster their attack via plays for Richmond pair Shai Bolton and Liam Baker.
The Power could add some needed speed to their front third to further support lively ground-level threat Willie Rioli as part of Ken Hinkley's small forward contingent, with duo Darcy Byrne-Jones and Sam Powell-Pepper more defensive-minded.
Richards has proven to be a viable option further up the field also, relying on his speed in space as a worthy advantage.
