Petterd 'rejuvenated' in Tiger defenceBy Mitch Cleary
afl.com.au
Friday, March 1, 2013RICHMOND recruit Ricky Petterd says he has been “rejuvenated” by a move to the backline since arriving at Punt Road.
Petterd made his name as a medium-forward for Melbourne before being delisted at the end of last year, leaving Richmond to secure his services via the rookie draft.
Speaking ahead of Saturday night’s NAB Cup clash against Essendon in Wangaratta, Petterd said he had enjoyed the change as he pushes for a spot on the senior list.
"I'm down back at the moment and since I've got to Richmond I've started training with the backline,"Petterd said.
"It's rejuvenated me, just to start fresh and it's been a new challenge for me to learn their structures after playing forward for four or five years.
"It's something I've missed when I went a bit stale up forward and it's good to be running off half-back again.
"Just the camaraderie between the backline, it's really strong. Even at Melbourne it was really strong and they always did things together. It's something I want to be a part of.
"Dimma's (coach Damien Hardwick) put a bit of faith in me to put me back there and given me a few roles to play."
Petterd said a berth on the senior list was there for him should his form and fitness warrant selection.
"He (Hardwick) said 'we've got you in here, you can play footy and we want you to get your body right'," Petterd said.
"He said to me at the start when I first got here he expects me to play at some stage, it all depends on how the pre-season goes and how I'm going during the year."
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