Light Tiger gets supersizedBy Adam McNicol
Tue 29 Nov, 2011MIDFIELDER Shane Edwards has emerged as the star performer in the early weeks of Richmond's pre-season.
The 23-year-old, who has played 89 games in five seasons, impressed his coaches and teammates by gaining strength and fitness during the past month.
"[Putting weight on] was a focus for a lot of the guys, the skinnier guys," Tigers skipper Chris Newman said before the playing squad departed for a week-long training camp in the United States.
"Shane Edwards has put a lot of time and effort into his body-weight. I think he's come back about three or four kilos heavier."
After coming to prominence while playing in the juniors with South Australian club North Adelaide, Edwards was recruited by Richmond with selection 26 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft.
Since then he has shown plenty of talent, but his light frame has made it difficult for him to compete against the competition's bigger bodies.
But that could change next season.
"He's looking very big at the moment, and he's just learning to deal with carrying that extra weight," Newman said.
"There's no doubt that he's put all the hard work in. Hopefully it pays off for him."
The extra bulk has not restricted Edwards' aerobic capacity at all, if his performance in the club's 3.8km time-trial two weeks ago is any guide.
In that hit-out he finished fourth behind speedy wingman Matthew White.
Richmond ended its 2011 campaign in 12th place on the ladder, having notched eight wins and a draw from 22 starts.
Given it is now a decade since the Tigers last made the finals, there will be plenty of pressure on the club to break into the top eight in 2012.
"No doubt we need to keep making improvement and inroads," Newman said.
"We are a young side and a developing side, and we have used that over the last few years [to keep expectations in check].
"But there's no doubt we're extremely confident in where we're at."
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