Richmond coach Adem Yze says the club would offer premiership defender Nathan Broad to stay despite reports that he is going to return to his home state Western Australia.
Broad is out of contract at the end of the year, but has been linked with a move to a WA side, or retire after a successful career at Punt Road.
A report has suggested that the No.35 has informed those close to him of his decision, with Yze addressing the rumours.
“Well, he hasn't told me personally,” Yze said on SEN.
“To be fair, I don't know if that's correct. But what I do know is he's out of contract, he's 33 and he's from Perth and that will be at some stage part of his next journey.
“So right now, like I said, he hasn't mentioned anything like that to us or to me as a coach. What I do know is he's a terrific leader of our footy club. He's so invested in the boys.”
North Melbourne has previously shown interest in Broad, while West Coast would be a perfect suitor for the veteran if he were to continue playing in WA.
The Tigers are in desperate need to keep their experience following the club's decision to trade out a host of stars for top-end draft picks to assist in the rebuild.
Broad, along with Tom Lynch, Dion Prestia, Nick Vlastuin, Toby Nankervis and Jayden Short, are pivotal to the development of the ground.
“There's no doubt that we would offer him to stay because," Yze said.
"While we're going through what we're going through, while we're trying to get games into our younger players, those older lads that have won premierships and they've got that experience are so important to have at our footy club. Dion Prestia, Tom Lynch, Nick Vlastuin, the knowledge that they're imparting on our players. We as coaches are trying to fast-track the development of our boys, but our lads out on the field are doing that a lot quicker than what I could do.
“So even on the weekend with the close game scenario, we started throwing up signs and making sure that we were in the right positions and setting up certain structures and systems. Our (older) lads were already setting that up out there.
“Those leaders were driving that and they're really important to have so no doubt we'll be having those discussions.”
Broad spoke on his future at the beginning of 2025 shortly after re-signing at the Tigers.
"Two years and I'm done," Broad said in February last year.
"I'm from Western Australia, my wife is from Western Australia. It's a nice spot to be - I'm content, I know when my time is up, which not many players get to do. I'm in a great position.
"The time will be right to head back (to Western Australia)."
