WHILE attention has been focused on Damien Hardwick this season, there are more questions surrounding a sizeable group of uncontracted senior Richmond players in 2016.

The Tigers have 10 players coming out of contract who either have been — or are becoming — regulars in their senior 22 this year. It is a situation that industry insiders view as favourable to the Tigers, who need flexibility to make trades and improve their fragile list and have secured all of their stars.

Of that ten players coming out of contract, three are youngsters who are assured of being offered deals and are clearly part of the club’s plans — Nick Vlastuin, Corey Ellis and Conor Menadue. It is just a question of the terms that trio will be offered.

The remaining senior seven players consist of half a dozen talls — Tyrone Vickery is a restricted free agent this year, while one of the heroes of the upset over Sydney, forward Ben Griffiths, remains out of contract, as do ruckman Shaun Hampson and key back David Astbury.

Round 18

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The half dozen talls out of contract are completed by the veteran pair of Ivan Maric and Troy Chaplin, whose both turned 30 this year and whose future beyond this year is doubtful, given that both have been dropped to the VFL in the course of the club’s disappointing first eight rounds.

Midfielder Shaun Grigg, who has been an automatic selection, is also without a contract for 2017 at this stage.

Griffiths, still just 24, has shown talent — he booted five goals against the Swans in a match-turning performance — but has struggled for consistency. As a tall forward, he attracted interest from rival clubs, including the Bulldogs, when he signed a two-year deal in late 2014.

Vickery has improved over the past 18 months and is well regarded by the Tigers, but is still a free agent. It is noteworthy that Vickery and Griffiths play somewhat similar roles — and Richmond would surely want to retain at least one of them.

Hampson has not been a consistent performer in the ruck, but his position is strengthened by the apparent decline of Maric. It is possible, though, that Richmond could look for another ruck in the trading/free agency market. Young tall forward Liam McBean is also out of contract.

The Tigers have all of their elite “fab five’’ - Alex Rance, Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin — under contract for 2017.

Adam Tomlinson is attracting interest from rival clubs. Picture: Tim Hunter. Source: News Corp Australia

GIANT STEAL?

RIVAL clubs continue to monitor versatile GWS Giants big man Adam Tomlinson despite his limited opportunities at senior level this season.

Tomlinson has played just two senior games in 2016, with the Giants preferring fellow talls Rory Lobb and Jon Patton in the forward line.

However, the 22-year-old has been in dominant form at NEAFL level and gathered an incredible 44 disposals and 13 marks against the Suns reserves last weekend.

Tomlinson, 193cm, is a genuine utility and in eight league games last year he spent 50 per cent of time in defence, 30 per cent in attack and 20 per cent in the midfield.

The Victorian is contracted until the end of 2017, but is likely to seek a trade should he fail break into the Giants team in the second half of the year.

It was reported that the Giants rejected an offer from Carlton for pick No. 11 in last year’s trade period, however the club’s position may be different 12 months on.

Lobb has been a revelation in the forward line and while Jon Patton’s form has been modest, the former No. 1 pick is building continuity.

Further to this, the Giants a number of key position players coming through their academy that will be available in November’s national draft.

Tomlinson could be off loaded to find list space, and points, to secure academy prospects Harrison McReadie (196cm), Zac Sproule (197cm) and Max Lynch (200cm).

The Oakleigh Chargers product has played 45 AFL games since he was drafted with pick No. 9 in the 2011 national draft.

TOP PICK URGED TO PUT BODY FIRST

NORTH MELBOURNE captain Andrew Swallow has urged his brother David to put his health first when weighing up a decision on his future.

David, taken by Gold Coast with the first pick in the 2010 national draft, is out of contract at the end of 2017 with speculation surrounding whether he will re-sign mounting.

The 23-year-old played only six games last year and is yet to feature this season due to a PCL injury, with a return date still unknown.

Andrew believes that when the time comes for David to ultimately consider his playing future, his fitness should be a priority.

“I would tell him to try and find somewhere that can help get his body right, because we’ve only got a short period to play footy and he’s missed so much in the last few years,” Swallow told the Sunday Footy Show over the weekend.

“If he thinks that’s on the Gold Coast, then it will be there. If not, he’ll find the best place.”

Although David’s return date has been listed as ‘indefinite’ by the Suns, Andrew believes he still holds hope of returning at some stage this season.

“He really enjoys being up on the Gold Coast,” Swallow said. “He’s started running over the last couple of weeks and he’s making his way back now.

“He’s aiming to play the last five or six weeks of the year, but he’s still on the long road back and he’s had plenty of time off. So it will be good to see him back playing footy.”

Swallow is into his sixth year at Gold Coast and has played 79 games.

David Swallow in training as he recovers from a knee injury. Photo: David Clark. Source: News Corp Australia

DOCKERS STILL HOPING TO KEEP NEALE

FREMANTLE remains confident that young midfielder Lachie Neale will stay at the club beyond this season.

Neale has been one of few positives in Fremantle’s winless start to the year and is the leading ball winner in the competition having averaged 33 disposals per match.

However, the South Australian native is out of contract at season’s end and has been linked with a move back to his home state.

However, Fremantle’s football operations manager Chris Bond said the club was not conceding that retaining the 22-year-old was becoming more difficult.

“I don’t think so, but it’s not done until it’s done,” Bond told ABC Grandstand over the weekend.

“If you look at where we want to go and what we want to do, Lachie is a part of that — not only because he’s a really good player, but he’s a great person who has shown great leadership and has a terrific relationship with people inside the club.

“We’re very confident, but time will tell.

“I think you’ll find that there will be ongoing communication between (Fremantle list manager) Brad Lloyd and his management and we’ll just wait and see.”

Lachie Neale has been a shining light for Fremantle this season. Source: Getty Images

BIG CROW LIKELY TO STAY

ADELAIDE forward Josh Jenkins has reiterated he is happy at the club and has revealed his contract situation will be sorted “in due time”.

The future of Jenkins has been thrust into the spotlight recently, with the in-form forward booting 25 goals from eight games to start the year.

Out of contract at season’s end, it has been reported that a host of teams are interested in securing the services of the 199cm Jenkins.

But he has confirmed that everything remains on track for him to re-sign before the year is out.

“Not everything that gets said and written is accurate,” Jenkins told FIVEaa last week.

“I’m very happy with where things are at. I don’t want to speak for them, (but) I would suggest the club is happy with where things are at.

“As I’ve said, it’s a process and it’s going to take some time. That’s basically all I can say on the matter.

“I’m just a little guy from Swan Hill. There’s no need a big hoo-ha. Everything will get sorted out in due course.”

Josh Jenkins is expected to remain at Adelaide. Source: Getty Images

THE WHISPER

AFTER tabling a lucrative offer to Cale Hooker, will Melbourne turn to his Essendon teammate Michael Hurley in a bid to lead its young defence?

Got a trade whisper? Send what you’ve heard to @FoxFootyLive on Twitter with the hashtag #AFLMarketWatch for your chance to feature in the column.

DONE DEALS

FUTURE CAPTAIN CONFIRMS FUTURE

ESSENDON midfielder Dyson Heppell will see out his contract at the club when his 12-month doping ban expires at the end of the season.

Heppell, who is contracted until 2020, revealed to Fox Footy’s AFL 360 last week that he had informed the club of his decision to honour his five-year deal, signed in January 2015.

DEES TALL SIGNS ON

MELBOURNE has re-signed ruckman Jake Spencer for another season.

Spencer, who has played 36 games in nine years with the Dees, is now tied to the club until the end of the 2017 season.

YOUNG MID PENS NEW DEAL

FORMER No. 1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield has re-signed with GWS Giants.

Whitfield, the first pick in the 2012 draft, is averaging 21 disposals per game this season and will remain with GWS for the next two years.