Richmond veteran Tom Lynch has revealed the truth behind the team’s group chat handing down a fine after Jayden Short’s failed trade request earlier this month.
Short, one of a small handful of over-30s left on the Tigers’ list, had hoped to get to Collingwood but negotiations broke down on deadline day.
He will now see out his 2027 contract at Richmond — with all parties declaring they will move on from the saga.
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That includes clearing the air, so to speak, over a fine revealed by list boss Blair Hartley shortly after the situation came to a head.
Speaking to Triple M, Lynch said there was a “little bit of truth” to the story but he was cautious about how he explained it.
“Actually what happened — I hope I don’t get quoted verbatim with this, because it’s going to sound worse than it is,” he began.
“The No.1 texted in, Nick Vlastuin — ‘asking for a mate, should we fine a bloke if he asks for a trade and the trade doesn’t get done?’
“One of the boys said ‘the amount of respect he’s lost and the wage he’s missed out on at Collingwood we probably can’t fine him now’.”
Lynch reiterated the conversation as all “very tongue-in-cheek”.
“I’m rapt Shorty hasn’t left the footy club,” he said of his fellow dual premiership player.
“He’s moved on pretty quickly, he’s loved Richmond, he’ll fit (back) in pretty well.
“If you know Shorty it’ll be water off a duck’s back and he’ll be leading the charge for us.”
Hartley had said there was “disappointment for Jayden” at Richmond that the deal didn’t go through.
“We had some really mature conversations with Jayden about what the deal might look like and how it’s going to work,” he said.
“When these things don’t work out it’s disappointing.
“He’s spoken to Adem (Yze, coach), he’s spoken to myself — I think he’s already looking to go into the club tomorrow and hit the ground running.
“We’re excited to have him back. He’s a much-loved member of our playing group, he’s played a really pivotal role through our successful period and he’s fully committed to the club going forward.”
Hartley said Short’s motivations surrounded his young family and his own form as much as the Tigers’ rebuild.
“He’s still got a heap of good footy and up until the last little block of our year he was third in our best and fairest,” the list boss said.
“I think he’s got a lot of really good football left in him.”
