Three-time Richmond premiership skipper Trent Cotchin believes that a pair of his former teammates could depart Punt Road this off-season.
That duo is out-of-contract pair Liam Baker and Dustin Martin, with the latter an unrestricted free agent able to walk to any club of his choice.
Reports suggest that both West Coast and Fremantle are chasing the 26-year-old Baker, who hails from WA and played for Subiaco in the WAFL, and Cotchin is hearing that the contract being offered to the utility is “pretty significant”.
As for Martin, he’s long been linked to Gold Coast to link up with former coach Damien Hardwick and the Suns confirmed they’ll monitor the veteran’s future despite expecting him to stay at Richmond.
Speaking on Seven’s Talking Footy, Cotchin predicted that at least one, if not both, will be playing for rival clubs in 2025.
“I believe that one of them, if not both, will not be in Richmond colours next year,” Cotchin said on Seven’s Talking Footy.
“With Baker, the numbers that I’m hearing being thrown around from the west are pretty significant.”
"I believe that one of them, if not both, will not be in Richmond colours next year."
Trent Cotchin on the futures of Dustin Martin and Liam Baker 👀 pic.twitter.com/0wuoXEED4E
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 17, 2024
Baker met with both West Coast in Fremantle in 2022 before deciding to stay with Richmond on a two-year deal at the time. He also recently purchased a multi-million-dollar property in Perth earlier this year.
As he’s not a free agent, either West Coast or Fremantle would need to trade for the utility’s services.
The pair aren’t the only Tigers linked to moves away from the club with Channel 10 Queensland reporting that Daniel Rioli toured Gold Coast’s facilities and met with Hardwick during the bye.
The 27-year-old defender is contracted at Richmond until the end of the 2027 season.
Martin, Baker and Rioli’s immediate focus will be on Melbourne on Anzac Eve at the MCG following their Round 6 bye.
