Reece Conca has become the first official move of the 2018 trade and free agency period after confirmation the Richmond midfielder will be heading to Fremantle.
Conca has endured eight injury-riddled years at Richmond, missing the 2017 premiership after playing the first six games of the year.
It looked like he was finally in for a change of luck this year, enjoying the best form of his career and riding high with the ladder-topping Tigers before badly injuring his ankle in the round 15 clash against Sydney.
However, Conca made a quick recovery and came back in for the last four matches of Richmond’s season, missing the ultimate glory again though as the Tigers bowed out in the preliminary final.
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A native West Australian, Conca had been linked to a move home in the past two off-seasons, but finally decided the time was right as he entered free agency in 2018.
“We’re delighted to have Reece on board at Fremantle,” the Dockers chief executive Steve Rosich told the club's website on Friday.
“He’s already shown what he’s capable of at a top-four club in Richmond and we’re very positive that he will become a long-term player at Fremantle and help drive our young midfield.
“In signing with Fremantle, we hope he can join the likes of Bradley Hill, Joel Hamling and Nathan Wilson as recruits who have come home and made an impact."
Richmond has received a compensation pick at the end of the second round (pick 36 at the time of being issued) for Conca who was drafted with a first round selection, number six overall, in 2010.
The 26-year-old played 104 games with the Tigers, but only 33 in the past four seasons.
DEAL DONE.
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) October 5, 2018
Welcome to Freo, Reece 🤗
📰 https://t.co/G1TEJGRZfY #foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/z41O5GboB2