Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Nathan O’Driscoll is heading to Richmond, with the Dockers wingman traded on Tuesday afternoon in exchange for a late draft selection.
O’Driscoll has landed at the Tigers on a three-year deal in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick — currently No.61 — days after he told the club he wanted to explore his options.
Richmond executive general manager of football talent Blair Hartley said O’Driscoll was “hungry to take his game to the next level”.
“At 24, he will complement what we have on the list and bring a skill set that suits the way we want to play with his running power and ability to cover the ground at a high speed,” he said.
“He is a quality young man, and we are excited to see him playing on the MCG in the yellow and black next year.”
The wingman had been linked to a potential move to the Western Bulldogs, but they have instead prioritised bringing in Port Adelaide’s free agent superstar Zak Butters.
A product of Perth in the WAFL, O’Driscoll played 55 games for the Dockers in six seasons including a career-high 17 this season.
But he lost his spot in the line-up after the Dockers’ defeat to Hawthorn in the qualifying final and failed to play in the last three matches of September.
As revealed by the West Australian, O’Driscoll had a multi-year deal on the table to remain at Fremantle earlier this year but that was pulled after the club and his management decided to hold off talks late in the season.
Fremantle list boss David Walls thanked O’Driscoll for his time in purple.
“It’s never easy having a player depart the club, but Nathan was out of contract at the end of this season and was keen to seek opportunity elsewhere for his AFL career,” he said.
“The deal also allows us to get another pick in this year’s draft which we are supportive of.
“We wish Nathan all the best in the future and thank him for his time at Fremantle.”
The 24-year-old averaged 17 disposals this year but finished the season in the WAFL where he won a second premiership in three seasons for Peel Thunder.
Tuesday’s move leaves Fremantle with picks 17, 38, 58, 61 and 76 in the upcoming national draft.
The trade was celebrated by O’Driscoll’s brother Aiden who posted in an Instagram story: “Let’s gooo. Forever proud of you brother. New beginnings, can’t wait for this”.
O’Driscoll started his AFL career in spectacular fashion, kicking a superb running goal within minutes of being substituted onto the ground in his debut match against St Kilda in 2022.
It became an early theme of the left-footer’s career, grabbing two nominations for Goal of the Year at different points in 2022.
He earning a finals debut in just his 11th senior game and booted a crucial late major to cap Freo’s massive comeback win over the Bulldogs in that year’s elimination final.
After being limited to a total of 26 senior matches across the following three seasons, O’Driscoll looked to have secured a permanent spot in Fremantle’s side in the second half of this year before his finals axing.
Earlier this year, O’Driscoll revealed his battle with mental health in an emotional post on Instagram, where he wrote about falling “into deep depressive states and three separate times where I’ve been extremely close to committing suicide”.
“Over the past four years, I’ve had some incredible highs, but also some very low moments. I’ve struggled with anxiety, a constant need to feel like I belong, and always putting others before myself,” he wrote.
Richmond had not expected to be major players in this year’s trade period after missing out on Butters, but adding O’Driscoll looms as now a priority for the Adem Yze-coached side.
The Tigers won only three games this season to finish 17th and will need to improve vastly next year with pressure mounting on Yze to retain his job amid a tough rebuild.
They had already signed ruckman Kieren Briggs, who joined the Tigers on a four-year deal as a free agent last week.
Fremantle have already made several list changes this off-season, with vital small forward Sam Switkowski retiring while veteran Bailey Banfield was delisted alongside key defender Ollie Murphy, luckless forward Sam Sturt and Next Generation Academy product Ryda Luke.
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