Relton Roberts

[one-eyed]

From: abc.net.au
By Aislin O'Connor


Relton Roberts is leaving the Wanderers to play for Richmond.

The 23-year-old star says Richmond recruiters flew him down to Melbourne last week and put him through a week of intensive training.

"My first few days were really hard hey," he said.

"I was puffing and huffing, I was just like I want to quit, but I just stood out and said, 'I'm not going to quit, I'm just going to put my head down and keep digging'."

His coach, Paul Motlop, says the club is losing one of its best.

"He's the club best and fairest, club champion of last year and he certainly will be missed from the club," he said.

"But, look, we're all happy for him and we expected him to be picked up in the draft."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/16/2773299.htm?site=darwin

[Penelope]

"I was puffing and huffing, I was just like I want to quit, but I just stood out and said, 'I'm not going to quit, I'm just going to put my head down and keep digging'."

Thats the part I like. doing it real tuff but wants to dig deep and keep going. That is the sort of attitude that hopefully can make this bloke an AFL footballer.

[Judge Roughneck]

HF: Nahas - Reiwoldt - Relton
FF: Post - Griffths - Morton
 

[yellowandback]

Pretty impressive highlights package. Let's hope he works harder than Clayton Collard.

[Fluffy Tiger]

HF: Nahas - Reiwoldt - Relton
FF: Post - Griffths - Morton
 

Only one of these players had played a game for the Tigers 2 years ago. Love the idea of such a radical change. Not sure if this is the ideal line up but the change is needed

[the_boy_jake]

We're going to have a few indigenous boys in the dreamtime game.

Last year it was only Tambling and Essendon had about 1/3 of their team.

Now we potentially have Tambling, Taylor, Roberts and Gilligan.

I wonder if the club are conscious of keeping a few aboriginal lads on the team given that the Dreamtime game is now part of our club's identity and we have the new institute opening up?

[tdy]

Pretty impressive highlights package. Let's hope he works harder than Clayton Collard.

He's older than Collard so you'd hope more responible.  But it'll be a bit of a change for him coming down to Melbourne.  In the highlights package it really looked like he could kick which is a tick for Hardwicks recruiting. 

Welcome aboard and I hope he makes good and feels at home.

[Judge Roughneck]

Going by the way he kicks I like Relton alot.

His kicks look like bullets. Long, flat tracker bullets

[one-eyed]

Roberts wants to be known as the "Ngandi Storm"

He's no bullet, he's the Ngandi Storm
Grey Morris
NT News
December 23rd, 2009


RICHMOND recruit Relton Roberts has discarded the Barunga Bullet tag in favour of the "Ngandi Storm".

The 23-year-old was dubbed the Barunga Bullet by NT News sportswriters because of his express pace and strong links with the Katherine community.

But he wants to establish a bigger connection with his family's country at Ngukurr, 200km to the east of Barunga.

"That's my tribe, where my grandmother and her family comes from," Roberts said.

"So I'm now the Ngandi Storm, in respect for my people from Ngukurr in the Roper River country."

Roberts (pictured) was recruited by Richmond at last week's AFL rookie draft when the Tigers grabbed him at pick No. 38.

The first few days as a Tiger were real eye openers for the quietly spoken former Eagle.

"It was good meeting the people but I found the training hard when I first got there," he said.

"In the AFL you train like you play - flat out - so it took a bit of getting used to.

"But now I've made some changes it's a lot easier. I think I can keep up with the rest of the players now."

Roberts is yet to meet Richmond's big recruit from last season, former West Coast premiership player and Brownlow medallist Ben Cousins.

But he has spoken to another Territory Tiger, former Southern Districts utility and Jabiru-born Richard Tambling.

"Ben Cousins is still in Perth so we haven't seen him at training," he said.

"But Richard gave me a few tips on what it's like in the AFL.

"And coach (Damien) Hardwick is a good bloke. He's outlined a few programs and gameplans that I'll be involved with."

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/12/23/111361_ntsport.html

[Ramps]

these aboriginal boys need to lose this appetite for dodgy nicnames and just effen play the game.

[crannyvegas]

these aboriginal boys need to lose this appetite for dodgy nicnames and just effen play the game.

ahaha you're not a romantic are you Ramps? I tend to agree though, perhaps worry bout the nickname till after you have at least played a game or two! Even if Ngandi Storm is a ripper!

[TigerLand]

Lol I agree CV its some harmless PR for the tigers that really wont have many interesting stories over the next season or two except up and coming players.

But agree lets kick 1 or 2 goals first before we label any nicknames lol.

[Smokey]

these aboriginal boys need to lose this appetite for dodgy nicnames and just effen play the game.

ahaha you're not a romantic are you Ramps? I tend to agree though, perhaps worry bout the nickname till after you have at least played a game or two! Even if Ngandi Storm is a ripper!

Although I agree with the sentiment of 'earning your stripes', in all fairness this sort of stuff is driven in part by a need to promote the benefits of moving forward and getting on with your life to an all too large element of the local youth.  You would find that the impetus for the story was not the work of the player but the work of a media trying to push the feel good line.  And imho, whatever it takes.

[richmondrules]

Ah the boy's having a bit of fun and he's proud of where he's come from. He must be feeling 1 million bucks at the moment. Apart from that sometimes a bit of ego and self confidence is not a bad thing, depends on the player.

If he wants to be the "Ngandi Storm" then I say let it rain!! 

[one-eyed]

Tambling gives Roberts nod of approval
Grey Morris
January 14th, 2010

RICHARD Tambling has welcomed Territory recruits Relton Roberts and Troy Taylor to the AFL Tigers' den.

The Territory trio were part of the Richmond senior list that trained at full pace at Punt Road in Melbourne yesterday.

"It's good to get a couple more Territory boys in a Richmond jumper," Tambling told the Northern Territory News.

"Relton's already a standout at training with his silky skills and Troy has shown enough to suggest he can play at the top level.

"I'd say Relton has to get his fitness up to the next level, but I'm sure he'll play AFL footy one day if he ticks all the right boxes.

"The club is being a bit careful with Troy because of his sore groins but his workrate will increase as his fitness gets better."

Tambling is on the eve of his sixth AFL season after the Tigers picked him at No. 4 in the 2004 national draft.

A former Thunder under-18 captain, 23-year-old Tambling has kicked 47 goals in his 66-game career in a black and gold jumper.

A father twice over, the Jabiru-born on-baller is looking forward to the 2010 season under new coach Damien Hardwick.

"There's a great feeling at the club with everything new and exciting," he said.

"We've got a NAB Cup game in a month (against Hawthorn) before we play Carlton in Round 1 (March 25), so there is a lot of planning and training to be done yet."

Tambling said former West Coast midfielder Ben Cousins and 2005 Brownlow medallist was in good shape.

"Benny's pretty good, he knows what he has to do in the pre-season and it's important he's ready for the season proper.

"He'll push his body to last the season and we're all confident he'll have a big one this year."

Tambling has also noted Richmond is due to play a premiership match in Darwin in 2011.

"Getting to play in a Richmond jumper in front of my extended family and friends at TIO Stadium, is there nothing better? Only my grandma, uncle and aunty have seen me play for Richmond, so it will be interesting to see the rest of my relations making up half of the crowd at TIO Stadium."

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/01/14/115471_ntsport.html