Building something special
11:25:37 AM Fri 23 June, 2006
Jennifer Witham
Exclusive to afl.com.au
At the tender age of 20, Richmond forward Adam Pattison is hoping he can act as a mentor of sorts for the younger players on the Tigers' list.
After being picked up in the 2004 NAB Draft, Pattison is halfway through his second year at Punt Road and can't quite claim veteran status yet.
But, the key attacking option says he hopes that with his experiences so far – which include nine senior games and the accolade of Richmond's best player with the Coburg Tigers in 2005 – he can help the new Tiger cubs of Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Cleve Hughes and Travis Casserly settle into the world of senior football.
"I suppose each year that you're on an AFL list, you'll start feeling more experienced as younger guys will come in under you, and hopefully you can pass on what you've learnt to them," Pattison said in an exclusive interview.
"It's great at the club as the moment because there are so many young guys down there and we're starting to play up for Richmond, which is great.
"At Coburg, you can really see development down there. Coburg has come a long way this year with all the young guys starting to play together, so it's really exciting."
The former Northern Knight admitted the gloss of an AFL career dulls somewhat after the first year on a club's list, but said that the second year was certainly more important as far as player development was concerned.
And, he said that with more senior games on offer in his second season at Richmond, 2006 still proves to be another exciting chapter in his budding football career.
"The first year, everything is so exciting and new and it's all a great experience," he said.
"The second year I suppose you know what to expect, and it's more about working hard and trying to get the results, while the first year is all about learning.
"So I would say the first year is probably a lot more fun but in the second year, you can start playing regular games in the firsts, so that's also more exciting."
Pattison, who was picked up with Richmond's number 16 selection, said he was 'still battling along' in his bid to increase his body size to rival that of the league's premier big men.
With a shoulder operation at the end of last season lessening the time he was able to work on bulking up, the young ruck prospect wants to ensure this coming preseason has him constantly surrounded by weights.
"I'm at 94kg and in the preseason I got up to about 97, 98 even at one stage, but during the year, it's hard to put on weight," he said
"Hopefully this upcoming preseason is going to be a launching pad for me to get a bit stronger."
Pattison puts himself in the category of people who struggle to gain kilos, and hopes a combination of protein drinks, supplements and creotine will finally help him put on weight.
"I think some people can put on the weight a lot quicker, and I don't think I can put on weight as quick as others," he said.
"But I had a shoulder operation after the season last year and that sort of cost me a bit when I could have put on some more kilograms.
"So hopefully this year I'll get a clear run at the preseason and then I can bulk up a lot more."
Away from the football track, Pattison recognises the need to have a 'back-up plan', and spends part of his spare time working on a business degree.
And while his promising career is only just beginning, the 20-year-old is taking a sensible approach to planning for when his playing days are over.
"I'm doing a business degree at ACU, I'm doing it part-time and I'm a few years into it," he said.
"You've definitely got to have a back up, I'm majoring in marketing so I suppose with a history of sport, maybe I could get into a sporting organisation, off-field management or something; that would be great.
"I'm not sure where that would take me, but it's definitely a goal and something I can do after footy."
http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=275739
