Lennon realised early in the year he may need to look elsewhere or go down a new path and that’s when American football became an option.
“It was probably the first quarter of the year when I was in and out of the team, I found myself playing VFL and had two mates who are over in the States at the moment ... I spoke to them and thought I might give this a crack,” Lennon told SEN.
“It wasn’t until later this year when I got delisted and I thought I’m still pretty keen to play at a high level with a sport but I didn’t know if it was with footy.
“I had a few meetings and came to the decision that this is a really good journey for me and I’m going to give it a crack.”
A former No.12 draft pick, Lennon has not yet shut the door completely on reviving his AFL career but it is no longer his top priority.
“At this point in time my eggs are more in the NFL basket, so that’s my main goal at the moment, that’s my main priority,” he said.
“But obviously if things don’t work out and I don’t make the NFL, well then I’ll still only be 26-27 and I’m not really sure, I can’t talk for 3-4 years down the track but it’s something I’ll definitely have to sit down and weigh up at the time.”
Lennon played just 21 career games in four years at Richmond after being selected with pick No.12 in the 2013 national draft.
He endured his fair share of injuries and was struck down by glandular fever ahead of the 2016 season but in the end his playing style — as more a marking forward than a pressure crumber at 188cm — there wasn’t a role for him at Richmond.
There is a “sour taste” after playing mostly VFL throughout his short AFL career but no hard feelings.
“I tried to get out of the club back in 2016 and that didn’t work and I obviously fell out of favour this year,” he said.
“The way the game is going now you need small, quick players to put pressure on and that’s something that probably wasn’t my main strength.
“I had to play a lot of VFL footy and at the end of the day that was pretty frustrating, you’re not there to play VFL
“I guess there is a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth but that’s nothing against Damien (coach Damien Hardwick), he’s obviously done a good job and we won the premiership.
“It doesn’t always work out the way you want it to but I’m just hoping to have another crack at a different sport and make the best out of it.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/former-richmond-forward-ben-lennon-training-to-pursue-nfl-punting-career/news-story/fab395f08b991e6b043b24da401033e0
