Castagna's interview on the RFC website:
VIDEO:
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2015-11-05/castagna-2015-season-review* My first year here, I just tried to learn as much as I could and enjoy myself through the VFL. And, I reckon I did that. I had great fun. It’s a massive transition from TAC Cup to VFL. I was coming up against a lot bigger bodies than I would have been last year. And, probably a really big difference from TAC Cup to this year, is how much your structures come into it. In the TAC Cup, you kind of just go out there and play. Structures really come into it in this and I think it’s really good and better for the team, obviously. The environment here is really good, I reckon, just being around the boys so much more. Obviously, you’re here every day and it’s just a lot more fun and the environment’s a really enjoyable one. Coming in from the start, there’s a lot going on. It’s hard to take in. But as you go through the year and play with a lot of the boys, it gets drummed into you. It took me a while to fully understand most of the stuff. But Ben Rutten and Ryan Ferguson, the backline coaches, were pretty good for me. They really drummed it in and kept reinforcing it, which was helpful.
* Getting the elevation towards the end of the season gave me a lot of confidence and made me want to push harder, I guess, to try and get senior selection.
* Bachar’s my mentor, so I speak with him a bit about footy. And I go through his game with him, watch his vision and I pick up a lot from him. From ‘Bach’ especially, but all the defenders, I’ve learnt a lot more about actually defending this year. I think last year in the TAC, you kind of just want to get the ball and just run with it. But the defensive part is crucial and I’ve learned a heap from those guys. Probably the key thing I’ve learnt off them, is how big communication is. When you’re out there with them, just at training, you realise how helpful it is when they’re talking so much.
* Over this break I want to stay fit and while doing that work on my skills and hone in on that part of my game. Put my best foot forward in pre-season and try and do well in pre-season games and then see where that takes me.
Full article: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2015-11-05/castagnas-impressive-climb
