Brad Ottens, Pushed or Jumped ?
Brad Ottens: Just whose fault was it he left Tigerland? His or ours? Maybe both, Was he the hottest trade prospect ever as Richmond’s then Director of Football at the time Greg Miller stated or a lazy disinterested footballer only playing for the money as some within the Richmond supporter base believe? Selected with the second overall pick in the 1997 national draft, Ottens, 202cm and 105kg played 129 games for Richmond over six seasons where he also kicked 152 goals and rose to prominence as a strong overhead mark as well as being an accurate and long kick for goal. He was also used as a part-time ruckman which he was not keen on as he always expressed a desire to play permanently in that position. Ottens it needs to be said was good for Richmond and had his moments but he was far from brilliant or dominant even though he was All Australian in 2001.
Towards the end of 2004, the Richmond hierarchy had serious doubt over the longevity of Ottens who had torn his ACL; required spinal surgery and badly fractured his ankle on separate occasions in the space of two years. With new coach, Terry Wallace taking over at the Tigers from Danny Frawley, Ottens was offered a reduced contract as well as being put on the trade table and quite rightly felt on the outer at Tigerland. Richmond, Wallace and Greg Miller knew that Ottens represented great trade currency and Ottens was filthy at the way he felt he was being treated and so wanted a change and saw the Dirty Rotten Cats as the 'perfect' new home and besides Richmond had their eye on a couple of big fellas in the draft and were circling Trent Knobel from Dirty Rotten St Kilda and Troy Simmonds from Dirty Rotten Fremantle who they subsequently acquired in the draft (Knobel) and through a trade (Simmonds) later that year.
Miller was on the record saying the Tigers only wanted draft choices not players as we had finished bottom in 2004 and an urgent rebuild through drafting was seen to be the key to success and Ottens was seen as a way of getting two picks inside the top twenty. So after a lot of toing and froing Dirty Rotten Geelong offered picks 12 and 16 and as simple as that, the call was made and Ottens was a Dirty Rotten Cat and the Tigers used those picks on Danny Meyer and Adam Pattison. So for all those out there that think Brad Ottens was a great player, a mercenary or traitor I hope this sets the record straight as to why he actually left the Tigers and for all those who questioned his heart at tigerland or whether he was Richmond through and through I leave you to make your own mind up.
