Riccardi stunned by Tyquin exit
BANNOCKBURN coach Peter Riccardi says he was left “blindsided” by the shock departure of star onballer Matt Tyquin.
As Tyquin signed with cross-town rival Inverleigh, Riccardi admitted he was angry that the hard-nosed midfielder had failed to inform him of his decision to leave the reigning premier.
“I heard he was shopping himself around, but he looked me in the eye and said he wasn’t going anywhere, so I took his word for it,” Riccardi said. “But two weeks into preseason I messaged him and said ‘What’s going on? I haven’t seen you at pre-season’ and he told me he was flat-out with work.
“We had our premiership photo a few weeks ago and he’s in that, but now he’s gone and it’s disappointing. He’s a hard bloke to replace, especially being so late.
“I was angry at the start, but you get over it and move on. I can’t do much about it now.”
Riccardi said he was stunned to learn last Thursday night that Tyquin had joined the Hawks, believing he would return to help Bannockburn’s premiership defence.
“I was 100 per cent blindsided,” Riccardi said.
“I got told, not even by him. Someone else told me that he signed at Inverleigh. So I rang him and yeah, he signed on Thursday night.
“It’s a head scratcher for me. He said he needed a change and he’s got a few mates there, but I think it’s more than that.
“I know for a fact he had seven or eight clubs that he was speaking to, but at the end of the day, I’ve just got to take his word for it.
“But I’m just disappointed. If he was upfront and honest with me early, we probably could have found someone.
“When you do your recruiting early and you think you’re going all right, knowing you are only losing Jake Myles and Jason Tom to retirement, and then we get this shock.”
Having lured St Albans pair Tristan Battaglia and Billy Ritchie, Otway Districts’ Zach Hickleton and Geelong Amateur’s Daniel Ladgrove, the Tigers will now turn their attention to replacing Tyquin.
“I’ve told our president and committee to put their ears to the ground so we can try and find someone, but it’s Christmas time and it’s going to be hard to find someone, especially a quality player,” Riccardi said.