Ben Nason craves more action by: Zac Milbank
From: The Advertiser
November 16, 2011 YOU can detect the desperation in Ben Nason's voice. "I would do anything to get another opportunity somewhere else - a rookie spot or anything," Nason said.
Ruthlessly discarded by Richmond despite playing 19 games in his first AFL season in 2010, Nason has been putting all of his energy into maintaining his fitness since being delivered a dreaded phone call from Tigers coach Damien Hardwick.
"I have been hitting the weights to put some weight back on," said Nason, who managed just four AFL matches this year.
"I go running with my mates and have been doing some time-trials by myself, which isn't much fun but you've just got to do it."
A surprise selection by the Tigers at No. 71 in 2009, Nason burst on to the AFL scene with his trademark dreadlocks quickly earning him cult status at Tigerland.
But the honeymoon period came crashing to a halt for the clean-skilled small forward, who struggled for selection ahead of fellow Tiger goalsneaks Robbie Nahas and Jake King in 2011.
"It's been pretty disappointing," said Nason, a neat kick on either foot.
"It came as a little bit of a shock to me and it hit me pretty hard.
"You never know what is going to happen, it was just a harsh reality that football is just a business.
"If you're not in their (club's) mould then it can be all over for you."
Once Nason's AFL world came crashing down, it became a burden to talk to his friends about his sudden exit from elite level.
"It was a bit tough because I was almost embarrassed to tell people," said Nason, who will almost certainly play in the SANFL with Central District if overlooked in the national and rookie drafts.
"They would be asking me when I was going back to Melbourne but I would tell them I'm not going back."
But if Nason gets his way, a journey to Victoria or Western Australia - where West Coast is understood to have an interest - beckons.
"I've played 23 games so I know how tough the game is now and what your elite fitness has to be," said Nason.
"And I reckon my professionalism in terms of eating and recovery is a lot better. You need to get yourself up to play each week."
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/ben-nason-craves-more-action/story-e6frecmc-1226196100661
