Nathan Broad Biography

Nathan Broad was close to leaving Richmond for North Melbourne, but a phone call with his father convinced him to stay loyal to the club that had shown faith in him when few others did.

"I just told dad where it was at and I said the more it went on, the feeling didn't sit right in my guts. He just said, 'Well, what are your values in life?' He asked if it wasn't for Richmond, would I even have this decision to make? It was an easy decision in the end," Broad said.

"Richmond showed faith in me when no one else did, to be honest. It was only Richmond that was interested in me at 22. My theory is, if they didn't pick me up, I'd still be plumbing on the shovels. No disrespect, but this is a much better life than being a plumber."

Richmond president John O'Rourke praises Nathan Broad for his loyalty to the club while taking a subtle swipe at a quartet of departing Tigers players.

Three of four players who want to leave Richmond in the off-season finished in the top five of the best and fairest on Tuesday night, won by Daniel Rioli.

Rioli, who wants to reunite with Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast next season, polled 40 votes, while Liam Baker and Shai Bolton, who both want trades to Western Australia, tied for fifth with 30 votes each.

Dual premiership-winning midfielder Jack Graham is also expected to leave the Tigers, who finished last this season with just two wins.

O'Rourke lauded Broad, who won his second straight Francis Bourke Award, as the person who best upholds the club's trademark values.

"Just by way of example … how fortunate are we to have players of the character of a Nathan Broad," O’Rourke said at the best and fairest count.

"I know through this year, I’m sure he could have explored options to see out his career in his home state or perhaps look for more lucrative options with other clubs. But he chose to extend for a further two years ... what a Richmond man."

Nathan Broad is suspended for four matches for a sling tackle that left Adelaide's Patrick Parnell concussed.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission launches an investigation into the unauthorised disclosure of images of Dean Laidley as he was being interviewed at St Kilda police station.

It came as Victoria Police announced the suspensions of two more officers over the leaked photos, bringing the total to four.

Nathan Broad unveils a full-length back tattoo of a Native American on Instagram.

Nathan Broad is expected to miss a month of football after fracturing his cheekbone in Richmond's win over Adelaide at the MCG.

Broad went off early in the fourth quarter and was unable to open his eye after an accidental collision with young Crow Tom Doedee.

It is believed the 25-year-old Tiger needed three plates inserted in his face after suffering a depressed fracture in the 47-point win.

"It's a short-to-medium term injury, and he'll [be back] hopefully sooner rather than later," Richmond's physical performance manager Peter Burge said.

"We have to wait until the swelling to die down and for him to feel comfortable so that if he does cop another knock to his head at any stage, it's not going to re-injure it."

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan says he is "satisfied" with Richmond defender Nathan Broad's three-match ban for his involvement in the topless photo scandal despite the Victorian Government joining the backlash.

"I think it's a strong statement and a strong accountability for a player who's made a very poor decision … it was a dramatic breach of trust (and) an incredibly poor decision," McLachlan said.

Victoria's acting sports minister Philip Dalidakis criticised the penalty.

"I think the penalty was manifestly unjust," Dalidakis said.

"Unjust not to the player, but to the woman who was part of this unfortunate incident.

"Three weeks is not a penalty that we as a community should be able to walk away and say is an appropriate penalty for that situation."

Nathan Broad is suspended for the first three home and away games of 2018 after being identified as the Richmond player who distributed a photo of a topless woman without her permission following the 2017 Grand Final.

"I take full responsibility for what I have done. I sent a very private picture without this young woman's consent," Broad said.

"I am ashamed and I am embarrassed and I made a very bad drunken decision.

"Not only have I let down my family, my friends and the Richmond Football Club, most of all I let down a young woman who I cared about – a young woman who I spent time with before the Grand Final and a young woman who I like and respected."

Nathan Broad signs a one-year deal with Richmond to remain at the club in 2018.

Broad says a 10-week stint in rehab under rehabilitation and conditioning coach Rob Inness changed everything for him.

"I ended up putting on extra weight, I got a lot stronger and a lot fitter. So it was like a mini pre-season," Broad said.

"It made me mentally stronger too. You're out of contract and part of your season's gone, your team is flying. All those things come into it and you're in rehab."

Nathan Broad has been placed on Richmond's long-term injury list after suffering a shoulder injury at training.

Nathan Broad makes his AFL debut for Richmond at the MCG with 14 disposals (8 kicks and 6 handballs), 4 marks and 2 tackles in a 42-point win over Brisbane.

Nathan Broad says playing against Richmond teammate Jack Riewoldt at training has been a great learning experience.

"I like to take the best player if possible to better myself," Broad said.

"Playing on Jack, he tells you where he doesn't like defenders to stand and what makes life difficult for a forward, which helps a lot.

"He's a very good forward, so if you get the chance to play on him you can learn a lot of things."

Richmond select Nathan Broad with pick No.67 in the NAB AFL Draft.

"Perseverance wins the day for Nathan. Rebounding half-back and defender," Richmond recruiting manager Francis Jackson said.

"He played 20 WAFL games, has a high possession rate and can play on the talls and smalls. He offers great versatility."