Nathan Gordon on the road again as he shifts from Roosters to Richmond Reece Homfray
From: Sunday Mail (SA)
November 23, 2013 10:41PMIT'S a good thing Nathan Gordon travels lightly.
Football's free spirit had one last look around Prospect Oval on Saturday before flying to Melbourne to meet his new teammates at Richmond which will be his third club in three states in three years.
"I've got to pack up again today but I'm used to that, I've been out of home since I was 18 and at the Swans," he said.
"It's just what I've got to do and it's the lifestyle I chose.
"I don't have much here, just clothes and that but we'll get the bed and TV across in the car later in the week.
"For now we'll just get over there and start training."
Gordon was only in Adelaide for one season where he played every game including the SANFL grand final with the Roosters.
"I love Adelaide. I was really getting comfortable here, it was a big change from Sydney but you've got to do what you've got to do," he said.
As much as he liked the place, he never planned to be here long term.
After being delisted by Sydney in 2012 after two AFL games in three years, Gordon took advice from Swans assistant coach Stuart Dew who sent him to Adelaide to resurrect his career.
"In the back of my head that was the plan but I didn't want to come here and be arrogant about it," he said.
Nathan Gordon, who has been drafted to Richmond, takes one last look around Prospect.
"I just wanted to come down and play some good footy, that happened and I was lucky enough to get picked up."
Like most draftees and their new club, Gordon spoke to Richmond at the draft combine but was given no indication how keen they were.
The Tigers, it was proved, were very keen, swooping on Gordon with their second pick in the national draft to grab him at No. 50 on Thursday night.
"I was pretty excited but I knew the rookie draft was a week later so I was getting ready to wait for that," he said.
"After a few clubs skipped me they (Richmond) jumped at the opportunity. I was happy to go anywhere, there was a possibility my new home was in Melbourne and I was happy to go to Richmond.
"I think I can fit in there and hopefully play some AFL next year."
The annual AFL draft in the most part went off as expected last night with just a couple of surprize picks thrown in for good measure - to take us through a few of the big winners from last night we're joined by the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph.
At his electrifying best, Gordon was one of the SANFL's most exciting players this season.
At 188cm he plays as a dangerous midfielder who goes forward, can take an overhead mark and kick a goal from 50m no worries.
"Hopefully it will be (a) similar (role) to North Adelaide, I'll be playing a lot forward and go into the midfield," he said.
"I will do a lot of work in the gym, that's one of my goals for this pre-season."
Having been given his second chance at the elite level, Gordon is determined not to let it slip.
"I'm more mature as a footballer, I've got a lot more knowledge and I take a lot of advice from the Swans, here (North Adelaide) and people along the way.
"A lot of people who heard I got picked up the second time have said to me 'don't waste it, not many people get a second chance'.
"And that's what I've got and I'm so grateful for Richmond giving me that chance so I'll make the most of it."
NATHAN GORDONFrom: North Adelaide
Junior club: East Coast Eagles (NSW)
Drafted: Richmond (pick No. 50)
Position: Midfielder/forward
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/nathan-gordon-on-the-road-again-as-he-shifts-from-roosters-to-richmond/story-fndv8t7m-1226766879804#mm-breached
