AFL: Kieren Briggs Completes Free-Agency Move to Richmond

18 hours ago - The Sporting Base

Kieren Briggs has joined Richmond from Greater Western Sydney as an unrestricted free agent on a four-year deal, with AFL.com.au confirming the ruckman’s free-agency paperwork on the opening day of the 2026 window.

According to AFL.com.au, Briggs’ move to the Tigers was confirmed hours after the free-agency window opened on Friday. Callum Twomey reported that free-agency paperwork had been submitted for a four-year unrestricted free-agency deal, with GWS compensation to be confirmed later on Friday or Saturday.

What the clubs have said

GWS Giants confirmed Briggs would depart as an unrestricted free agent after the club did not offer him a contract for 2027. The Giants said the 26-year-old Academy graduate was drafted with pick 34 in 2018, debuted in 2021 and played 88 games for the club, including 16 in 2026. Football boss Jason McCartney said: “Kieren has been a valued member of our playing group over a long period of time both on and off the field,” adding the club was “not in a position to retain Kieren moving forward.”

Richmond list strategist Nick Austin previewed the club’s free-agency plans before the window opened and said: “Kieren Briggs is one that will join the footy club via free agency. He’ll certainly help our ruck stocks and is a very experienced player.”

Free agency Day 1 context

Briggs’ lodgement comes on the same day TSB covered Toby Greene’s confirmed free-agency move to Geelong and Carlton’s earlier paperwork for Joel Amartey. AFL.com.au noted the Giants have already received a second-round compensation pick for Greene, while Briggs’ compensation band had not been published at package time.

Unconfirmed at package time: exact annual dollars on Briggs’ four-year deal, and the AFL compensation pick GWS will receive for his departure.

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