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Tambling settling in nicely.
Can't wait to see this kid burn up some opponents next year.
Tambling settling-in nicely
12:41:49 PM Thu 31 August, 2006
Matt Burgan
Exclusive to richmondfc.cpm.au
Regardless of a player's draft status, lining up for your 33rd AFL match in just your second AFL-listed season, particularly when you're still a couple of weeks shy of your 20th birthday, is a fine achievement.
And that's exactly what Richmond youngster Richard Tambling will be accomplishing this Saturday when he takes the field in the Tigers' final home-and-away match of the season against West Coast at the MCG.
Tambling, the fourth player selected in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft, has played 20 matches this year, bouncing back strongly after an injury-interrupted debut season last year.
"My second season has been a bit better. I've gone through the season without an injury, so on that side of things, I'm pretty happy because I missed most of the season (last year) with injury, so this year has been quite good for me," Tambling told richmondfc.com.au.
"I'm happy with just missing the one game for the year, but I'm still not as happy about my performance during the year, because I've had a few shocking games and a few average (matches) and I'd just love to get them all up there and have more average to good games, rather than average to bad games.
"I'd really love to do that, and if (Richmond coach) Terry (Wallace) is pretty happy with me this year - I'm not quite sure if he is - but he's certainly got a bit more confidence in me to throw me in a midfield role, so I'm happy about that."
Tambling said the fact that he was a high profile draftee was no longer a hindrance to him. He added that how you approach your football, rather than what number you were selected at, was the most important ingredient for draftees.
"That's probably been a high burden from the first year, but Dean Polo's come from not playing a senior game last year to being one of the major contributors for us in the last half of the season," Tambling said.
"So after you've been picked in the draft at No.1 to No.60 - it doesn't matter how hard you work if you prove yourself with the time you have at the club.
"That's certainly the way to go about it, rather than thinking you're No.1 or No.2 and (you're) going out there and playing because of your number and not how hard you can work."
Although a return to the Northern Territory is firmly on the agenda at season's end, Tambling said his main focus entering his third AFL season will be to continue adding size to his frame - in order to play in the midfield.
"At the moment, I'm spending time as a small forward in a midfield rotation, but hopefully in the years to come, I can become a permanent midfielder and work my way around the ground wherever I'm needed," Tambling said.
"I think I've got to get a bit stronger because most of the boys in there are fairly strong and I think that's probably the main thing at the moment, because I am still pretty small and light-framed, so I can get pushed under the ball or pushed over pretty easily.
"So my main focus over the break will be to get in the gym quite a lot."
Can't wait to see this kid burn up some opponents next year.
Tambling settling-in nicely
12:41:49 PM Thu 31 August, 2006
Matt Burgan
Exclusive to richmondfc.cpm.au
Regardless of a player's draft status, lining up for your 33rd AFL match in just your second AFL-listed season, particularly when you're still a couple of weeks shy of your 20th birthday, is a fine achievement.
And that's exactly what Richmond youngster Richard Tambling will be accomplishing this Saturday when he takes the field in the Tigers' final home-and-away match of the season against West Coast at the MCG.
Tambling, the fourth player selected in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft, has played 20 matches this year, bouncing back strongly after an injury-interrupted debut season last year.
"My second season has been a bit better. I've gone through the season without an injury, so on that side of things, I'm pretty happy because I missed most of the season (last year) with injury, so this year has been quite good for me," Tambling told richmondfc.com.au.
"I'm happy with just missing the one game for the year, but I'm still not as happy about my performance during the year, because I've had a few shocking games and a few average (matches) and I'd just love to get them all up there and have more average to good games, rather than average to bad games.
"I'd really love to do that, and if (Richmond coach) Terry (Wallace) is pretty happy with me this year - I'm not quite sure if he is - but he's certainly got a bit more confidence in me to throw me in a midfield role, so I'm happy about that."
Tambling said the fact that he was a high profile draftee was no longer a hindrance to him. He added that how you approach your football, rather than what number you were selected at, was the most important ingredient for draftees.
"That's probably been a high burden from the first year, but Dean Polo's come from not playing a senior game last year to being one of the major contributors for us in the last half of the season," Tambling said.
"So after you've been picked in the draft at No.1 to No.60 - it doesn't matter how hard you work if you prove yourself with the time you have at the club.
"That's certainly the way to go about it, rather than thinking you're No.1 or No.2 and (you're) going out there and playing because of your number and not how hard you can work."
Although a return to the Northern Territory is firmly on the agenda at season's end, Tambling said his main focus entering his third AFL season will be to continue adding size to his frame - in order to play in the midfield.
"At the moment, I'm spending time as a small forward in a midfield rotation, but hopefully in the years to come, I can become a permanent midfielder and work my way around the ground wherever I'm needed," Tambling said.
"I think I've got to get a bit stronger because most of the boys in there are fairly strong and I think that's probably the main thing at the moment, because I am still pretty small and light-framed, so I can get pushed under the ball or pushed over pretty easily.
"So my main focus over the break will be to get in the gym quite a lot."
