Richmond has re-signed four key players, as it seeks to strengthen its long-term position.
Valuable veteran pair Chris Newman and Jake King, along with talented teenage duo Brandon Ellis and Nick Vlastuin, have all agreed to terms for contract extensions at Tigerland.
Newman, 31, and King, 29, have signed one-year deals, Ellis, 19, is now contracted to the Tigers until the end of 2015, while Vlastuin, 19, is committed to the Club until the end of the 2016 season.
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“It’s a fantastic result for the Club to extend the contracts of two of its brightest prospects and two of its most loyal servants,” said Richmond’s General Manager of Football, Dan Richardson.
“Brandon and Nick represent the future at Richmond, and they’ve already shown Tiger fans why they are regarded so highly within the Club.
“Chris has been an incredible player and leader over a long period of time, and Jake has been a great story of persistence and hard work.
“Along with Trent Cotchin’s contract extension last month, our list is in good shape for the future and we hope to secure a number of our other key players in the coming months.”
Newman, who has played 224 games since making his senior league debut in 2002, continues to show admirable composure and courage in the back half. And, he’s averaging just over 16 disposals per match this season for good measure.
King, who has played 97 games, has kicked 16 goals in the first half of the 2013 season, further underlining his importance to the side in his role as a spirited small forward.
Ellis has taken his game to another level in his second season of league football, racking up a career-high 39 disposals in the Round 8 win against Melbourne, and having a significant impact in last Saturday’s victory over Adelaide, with 23 touches and two goals.
Vlastuin, in just seven games for Richmond, has captured the imagination of the Yellow and Black faithful with his toughness, maturity, poise, and broad repertoire of skills.
