Matthew Lloyd is concerned that Richmond coach Adem Yze isn't being "ruthless" enough with his mature-aged players, as the Tigers slump to the bottom of the ladder.
Richmond sit in 18th with a 2-14 record, with Yze admitting that a rebuild has been the plan since he took over at the start of 2024.
It's a big drop off from the Tigers of old, who just four years ago had collected their third premiership in four years.
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"They're lost with their direction at the moment," Lloyd said on Nine's Footy Classified on Wednesday night.
"He can't control the off field stuff, but he can control the on field.
"I'd be ruthless now and go, 'OK, it's now round 18, I've had enough. I need to start planning and I've got money I thought I didn't have. I'll start hunting and being more aggressive'."
Lloyd called out a number of players who have reportedly met with other clubs during 2024, urging Yze to sit them down and question their ongoing commitment to the Tigers.
"If it's Dan Rioli, look him in the eye and go, 'do you want to go or not? Do you want to be here?'," Lloyd said.
Rioli is one of a number of players who could be looking to move at season's end.
The premiership defender met with former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick during the club's bye weekend, on the Gold Coast.
Fremantle has reportedly already met with Richmond forward Shai Bolton, who is still contracted with the Tigers until the end of 2028.
There is also natural interest from midfielder Liam Baker, who is from WA, to return home.
It has Lloyd worried that the Tigers could lose key stars without preparing for the hole they'll leave.
"All I'll say is, I'll be surprised if a key Tiger is not a Docker next year, with that (draft) hand they've got," Lloyd said.
The Dockers have picks 10, 13, 16, 25 and 61 in this year's draft.
In 2025, they'll have first, second, third and fourth round picks.
But Geelong great Jimmy Bartel is convinced Yze is just being overly cautious when addressing Richmond's outgoing premiership players.
"He's just overcorrect in being incredibly respectful to the premiership stars," Bartel said.
That doesn't mean these hard conversations about the club's new direction haven't occurred, Bartel added.
"He might be having those conversations," he said.
"But, everything public is, respect the guys who got them there."
Richmond face the Giants at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
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