RICHMOND wants to prise hard nut Josh Caddy out of Geelong in return for Brett Deledio.

The Tigers have informed Geelong they are keen on Caddy to help support captain Trent Cotchin and superstar Dustin Martin inside its bolstered midfield next season.

But Cats sources said the club was reluctant to lose Caddy in a straight swap and is aware it could potentially land Deledio, 29, for nothing at the end of 2017.

Richmond is also on the brink of landing Caddy’s former Gold Coast teammate, Dion Prestia, in the coming days, potentially in return for the Tigers’ No. 6 pick.

Caddie and Prestia, who are both 24 and were originally taken with top-10 picks in the 2010 national draft, would inject much-needed steel into Richmond’s midfield set-up next season as the club attempts to re-enter the finals mix under Damien Hardwick.

TRADEHQ: LATEST NEWS AND WHISPERS

The Tigers averaged the third-least number of stoppages wins last season, with 22 per game.

The Cats were on Tuesday night considering Richmond’s request but have not ruled out waiting another year to secure Deledio, 29, for nothing as a free agent at the end of 2017.

media_camera The Tigers have their sights on Geelong’s Josh Caddy. Picture: Michael Klein

Geelong goal kicking great Billy Brownless said it was a worthy deal for the Cats.

“Caddy is good, but he didn’t kick on this year,” Brownless said on Triple M.

“We were waiting for him to kick on, because he can be a very hard tough midfielder, which they want.

“But I would love to see Deledio there and if this is going to make it work, well, let’s do the deal.”

Caddy has been a solid servant in Geelong’s midfield over the past four seasons but did not finish in the top 10 of the Cats’ best-and-fairest this season, despite finishing with 18 games and 21 goals for the year.

He averaged 20 disposals a game this season, including nine contested possessions and seven score involvements, which is ranked elite for a midfielder, according to Champion Data.

Caddy is contracted at Geelong for two more seasons.

His potential replacement, Deledio, would almost certainly have to accept a pay cut in the vicinity of $200,000 to make the move to Geelong and be part of their premiership push next season.

Deledio was believed to be on about $800,000 at Punt Rd next season but would have to accept substantially less to fit into the Cats’ tight pay scale.

media_camera Brett Deledio wants to be traded to Geelong. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Deledio’s parents and brother, Matt, live on the Surf Coast.

Geelong also wants to secure speedy Carlton backman Zach Tuohy, but Cats list chief Stephen Wells said it would be tough to land both Tuohy and Deledio.

Wells said both players approached Geelong about swapping clubs.

“We received an approach through their managers late in the season for us to consider those boys coming to join us at Geelong,” Wells said.

“Of course with players of the quality of those two we have an interest, we would love them to come and play at Geelong.”

Wells said the Cats might have to orchestrate a three-way trade to grab Deledio.

“That’s probably the way it’ll have to happen,” Wells said.

“I think they’re also mindful of the fact that he is getting closer to 30 and is a free agent at the end of next year as well.

“We’ve got a lot of work to sort that out.”

Caddy was traded to Geelong at the end of 2012 as part of the Cats’ compensation for losing superstar Gary Ablett.

If Caddy departed, Geelong could fill the onball void with hardball winner Sam Menagola or George Horlin-Smith.

Caddy is well-known to former Geelong football manager Neil Balme, who last month took over Richmond’s football department.