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Richmond coach open to NRL player-movement concept

The NRL’s model has players declaring their future plans during the season.

Published by
Aidan Cellini

Richmond coach Adem Yze is open to the NRL's approach of players declaring their future plans mid-year amid multiple Tigers considering end-of-year exits.

Up to five players from Punt Road have been linked with moves to rival clubs, including Dustin Martin, Daniel Rioli, Liam Baker and Shai Bolton.

For the first time in the club's history, Richmond has fallen to 18th spot on the ladder with Yze's inaugural season in charge yielding two wins after Round 17.

However, the Tigers' fall from grace has also opened the door to plenty of player moves and the subsequent pressures it has on the individuals and the club when dealing in relative secrecy.

“The expectation around our players meeting other clubs and things like that — we understand the landscape that we're in,” Yze told Fox Footy's AFL 360 on Monday night.

“I don't mind the NRL model where they come out and say they are leaving.

“It's different, and it might be a different view than we are used to.

“I look at the players and the anxiety they have about making the decision during the season and carrying that, it's too hard for them.”

Yze also believes it might help with planning given the likelihood of Baker and Martin not being in the yellow and black in 2025 and beyond.

“As it starts getting closer to the end of the season, we've got to start to plan,” Yze said.

“Those discussions will unfold in the next two or three weeks, and as it gets closer to the end of the year, we will need to know.

“We've obviously got players that are considering their futures, and they need to do that, and it's fair enough and so they should, but we can't leave it until the end of the season — it's in the next two or three weeks.”

Published by
Aidan Cellini