2019 flag felt completely different to 2017 says Vlastuin (SEN)

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Floss on SEN Summer Breakfast today.

AUDIO: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=512659

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Why Richmond’s 2019 flag felt “completely different” to 2017

By Andrew Slevison
SEN
6 Dec 2019

Two-time Richmond premiership defender Nick Vlastuin has explained how this year’s flag differed to that of two years ago.

In 2017, the Tigers broke a 37-year premiership drought when knocking off the Adelaide Crows in the decider which was met with fervent celebrations and an outpouring of emotion such was the magnitude of the triumph.

Fast forward 24 months and the yellow and black did it again by demolishing GWS to the tune of 89 points which somewhat vindicated a dominant yet fruitless 2018 season while well and truly corroborating their 2019 efforts after a difficult beginning.

Vlastuin says that the experience of winning the first one was packed away for safekeeping, allowing the second achievement to be cherished in a slightly contrasting manner.

“It was good fun once again. This one was completely different to 2017,” Vlastuin said on SEN Summer Breakfast.

“First time we did it, everything was new, we wanted to touch everything.

“This one was more of a relief. We got to celebrate it with family and fans a little bit more.”

The 25-year-old also touched on the fact that six Tigers who were not involved in the 2017 Grand Final got the chance to taste the ultimate success.

“A lot of young boys who didn’t get to experience the first one as well,” he added.

“Lynchy (Tom Lynch), who is a massive part of our club already, Liam Baker and Jayden Short (plus Shai Bolton, Ivan Soldo and Marlion Pickett), it was pretty cool for them to play. And we got to watch them enjoy it as well, so a completely different feeling.”

What can sometimes coincide with holding aloft the Holy Grail is either complacency or a lack of incentive to return to the summit but Vlastuin insists that is simply not the case at Punt Road.

“I was probably more excited to get back (to training) because you know how fun it can be,” he said further.

“The off-season is fun because you get to do what you want but you want to get back into that routine and get around 40 of your mates.

“After the flag, you do get to build pretty special relationships. You want to be around those blokes more.

“This year I was looking forward to getting back more than any other year. The motivation is definitely still there.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2019/12/06/why-richmonds-2019-flag-felt-completely-different-to-2017/

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More from Floss' SEN interview:

“I was probably more excited to get back to training because you know how fun it can be," he said.

“The off-season is fun because you get to do what you want, but you want to get back into that routine and get around 40 of your mates.

“After the flag, you do get to build pretty special relationships. You want to be around those blokes more, and they're all at the footy club.

“The motivation is definitely still there.”

It was an exciting off-season for Vlastuin, who travelled to India with fellow Tiger Toby Nankervis as part of the Tigers’ official conservation partnership with WWF-Australia.

While the Tigers had a later start to the pre-season compared to clubs who didn't play finals, Vlastuin said they don't feel like they're behind at all.

"As Peter Burge (Physical Performance Manager) said on day one of pre-season, the three finals we played, they're the highest intensity games you'd want to play," he said.

"So we got that extra conditioning at the end of last season as well.

"I reckon if you spoke to any other AFL club about how (they) want to prepare for next season, it's probably three high quality games."

Vlastuin praised VFL premiership coach Craig McRae, who recently moved into the AFL program as an assistant coach, for his contribution to the depth within the Tigers' list.

"He's been unreal for our VFL program...It's a pretty tough spot to be in because all the players playing VFL, they want to do well and they want to be playing AFL.

"But 'Fly' brought them really close together.

"We had 36 players play across the year in the AFL...we know what (our players) do at VFL, they'll be able to do at AFL."

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/547703/vlastuin-thrilled-to-be-back