Champion goalkicker Matthew Lloyd suggests Richmond should prioritize acquiring top-end draft picks to support rookie coach Adem Yze in rebuilding the club, particularly if two-time premiership player Liam Baker departs after the season. Lloyd, speaking on AFL.com.au’s Access All Areas, criticized Richmond’s overall performance against the Western Bulldogs as “insipid,” highlighting concerns about their on-field struggles and off-field instability with the impending departure of CEO Brendon Gale.
Following Richmond’s heavy defeat to the Bulldogs in round nine, Lloyd questioned Yze’s post-match assessment of the players’ effort and suggested the need for a list overhaul. He emphasized the importance of retaining key senior players while also securing high draft picks to bolster the team’s prospects over the next few years.
Meanwhile, AFL.com.au’s chief football correspondent Damian Barrett expressed concerns about an “attitudinal problem” within the playing group. He suggested that with key figures like Cotchin, Riewoldt, and Hardwick exiting, along with Gale’s forthcoming departure, there is a lack of leadership both on and off the field. Barrett argued that Gale should refrain from influencing decisions about player contracts or the club’s future, given his imminent departure.
Overall, both Lloyd and Barrett highlighted the challenges facing Richmond, both in terms of on-field performance and off-field stability, as they navigate through a period of transition and change.
