• Who's hanging up the boots? Check out 2015's retirements and delistings and take the quiz
WINNING Richmond's VFL team's best and fairest this year hasn't been enough for Matt Dea to earn another AFL contract, with the defender delisted by the Tigers along with Nathan Gordon
And, former Port Adelaide hardnut Matt Thomas has announced his retirement from AFL football after an injury-affected two-year stint as a Tiger.
Dea, 24, was cut on Wednesday ahead of this Friday's first list lodgement after spending the season in the VFL.
He failed to break into the senior side in 2015 after an early hamstring injury, but was able to find form across half back in the VFL.
However, injury issues in the past two seasons stagnated his continuity and he only managed 31 games since being drafted in the third round of the 2009 Draft.
Gordon, 25, had a promising start to his second stint as an AFL player when he ran out for 12 games last year.
The mature-aged recruit, who was drafted by the Tigers in 2013 from the SANFL after a brief season-long stint with the Sydney Swans in 2011, added a further nine to that tally this year.
But he was quiet in his last two AFL games this season – in rounds 15 and 16 – before he finished the year in the VFL.
Thomas was picked up by the Tigers as a mature-aged rookie at the end of the 2013 season, after 87 games for the Power.
The 28-year-old played 15 games in two years at Punt Road, reaching 102 all up in a 10-year AFL career.
The midfielder provided a handy addition at times when the Tigers needed some inside grunt, but was cut down by a knee injury at the end of his first season.
"I want to thank both Richmond and Port Adelaide for giving me the opportunity to play AFL football, especially Richmond for giving me a second chance," Thomas said.
"Now is the right time to retire. I feel I have got everything I can out of my ability and have no regrets.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Richmond and thank you to all the Tiger fans for their support.
"I sincerely hope the club enjoys the success it deserves in the future."
Matt McDonough and Matt Arnot are Richmond's other delistings to date, while Thomas joins Chris Newman, Nathan Foley, Chris Knights and Ricky Petterd in retirement.
