Richard Tambling earns his stripes ... at last
Rebecca Williams From: Herald Sun February 04, 2010 12:00AM
RICHARD Tambling describes last year as a turning point in his career and says he is ready to attack this season with a healed mind and body.
Tambling, 23, appeared to come of age late last year, finishing fourth in the Tigers' best-and-fairest, averaging 21.5 possessions and going some way to silencing long-term critics.
The year didn't begin well - he was dropped after Round 3 against the Western Bulldogs - but as it unfolded a more confident, attacking and consistent Tambling found the form the Tigers had long coveted.
Tambling's early-season axing prompted him to turn to a hypnotist outside the club to help clear his mind and regain confidence.
"Last year was the turning point. I went and cleared all that stuff up from my head because there was a lot of pressure from the media and our own fans," he said. "I put too much pressure on myself and didn't allow myself to play my natural footy."
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Looking forward to new season, he said he no longer needed hypnotism.
"I think my little, young family helps me out a lot now. I have two (children) -- a four-year-old and a 10-month-old. They keep me busy and keep my mind off the footy."
Tambling's body also needed healing at the end of last season. He required surgery on both legs to correct compartment syndrome.
"It's where oxygen doesn't get to your feet because of your muscle tightness," he said. "Pretty much through the last couple of years I didn't have any oxygen carrying my blood to my feet. No one knew what it was until we got it tested and I ended up needing major surgery."
The surgery meant he was "pretty much on my back for two weeks", but he's now back to full training.
It's been a rocky road for Tambling since being taken with the fourth selection in the 2004 national draft - one spot ahead of Lance Franklin.
Tiger fans have regularly debated that call, wondering what their team could have done if "Buddy" had joined the now-retired Matthew Richardson up forward.
It's a burden Tambling, at times, has clearly struggled with.
"Definitely at the start there was a lot of burden behind it," he said.
"You play 10 good games in a row and then you play one bad one and the world is on your back."
Tambling and the Tigers, now under new coach Damien Hardwick, hope those days are over. While he has spent most of his time in the midfield, Tambling has revealed there could be a change this year.
"Up forward and in the midfield were my priorities, but I've been playing practice matches down back so I think I'll probably start back this year," he said.
Tambling may still be young but in football terms he is one of the Tigers' elder statesmen, particularly now the likes of Richardson, Nathan Brown and Joel Bowden have gone.
"It's my sixth year in the system but it's amazing all these young blokes around me, it makes me feel old."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richard-tambling-earns-his-stripes-at-last/story-e6frf9jf-1225826533394
