Tiger midfielder cut but may receive second chance
Richmond delists midfielder but says it will re-draft him as a rookie
RICHMOND midfielder Matt Arnot is likely to enter 2015 on the Tigers' rookie list after being cut as a senior player.
The 21-year-old was delisted on Monday, ahead of the League's second list lodgement this Thursday and as clubs structure their lists before the November 27 NAB AFL Draft.
But the Tigers have pledged to re-draft the contracted midfielder as a rookie for what will be his fourth season in the AFL.
"The decision to delist Matt was a tough one to make, however it was a necessary list management decision to enable us to go into the upcoming draft period with the number of selections we want," football manager Dan Richardson told the club's website.
"We have committed to re-drafting Matt, as we believe he still has a contribution to make to the Richmond Football Club.
"Matt will continue to train with the club during this time."
Arnot played just four senior games this year having lost some of the consistency he showed the previous season. He's played eight senior matches in total.
In the past few years, he has developed from a hard-working defender into a ball-winning midfielder but struggled to hold his form at senior level in 2014.
He was drafted by the Tigers in 2011 with pick No.55.
The Tigers have already delisted Aaron Edwards, Brad Helbig and Brett O'Hanlon, along with rookies Todd Banfield, Ben Darrou, Orren Stephenson and Cadeyn Williams.
Dan Jackson and Jake King retired before the season's end because of recurrent injuries.
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