Tattooed Tiger Nathan Broad finds a kindred spirit in Dustin MartinShayne Hope
West Australian
6 August 2017One of the most significant moments in Nathan Broad’s season to date didn’t occur in front of thousands under the bright lights of the MCG, nor on the sacred turf next door at Richmond’s famous Punt Road home.
It transpired in more intimate surrounds at a small Greek restaurant in Moonee Ponds.
It was there at Philhellene that a tight gathering of wounded Tigers assembled to celebrate the second-year defender’s re-release into the AFL jungle; a tradition conceived by club conditioning boss Rob Innes.
Broad had spent more than two months under Innes’ watchful eye, slogging away in the rehabilitation group as he rebuilt strength in his right shoulder.
“It’s a dark place to be,” the 192cm defender said.
“You’re here at the club before everyone else, you’re training away from the group and you don’t get to see them that much.
“But the things Rob does, not just at the footy club but outside of footy, keeps it very entertaining. You obviously don’t want to be there, but he definitely makes it more enjoyable.”
Broad could hardly have picked a worse time to get the first and only injury of his career so far, either at Richmond or in his five years at Swan Districts, where he developed into a player worth taking a chance on as a mature-aged pick.
“It was two days before round one,” Broad said.
“We were just doing a drill and I was on Jack Riewoldt. We came into another pair, all four us kind of hit and my legs got tunnelled out from underneath me.
“I landed on my head and did the AC. You could tell straight away that it was serious. It was just an unlucky accident.”
Almost immediately, Broad knew he had to simplify his goals.
“It’s difficult. You’re out of contract and I’d only played two games in my first year,” the 25-year-old said.
“I just tried to block all that out and get back as fit and strong as possible through my rehab.
“It was a good opportunity to get one-on-one personal training. I wanted to get back playing consistent footy and enjoying footy because it’s not very fun on the sidelines.”
Broad arrived at Swan Districts as a bright eyed 17-year-old from Dongara, via tiny Bindoon, with dreams of becoming an AFL star, but didn’t take the conventional route to the big league.
Picked in WA’s extended under-18s squad, he didn’t get a game at the 2011 national championships and went undrafted.
That squad produced first-round draft picks Jaeger O’Meara, Stephen Coniglio and Tom Mitchell, as well as future premiership players Brad Hill and Joel Hamling.
Broad had to fight, spending four seasons bouncing between Swans’ league and reserves teams. He was inspired by teammate Blaine Boekhorst’s surprise selection by Carlton in the 2014 draft and honest feedback from senior coach Greg Harding.
It led to steady improvement and, eventually, Broad was drafted as a 22-year-old from Swans with the fourth-last pick (No.67 overall) in the 2015 national draft.
Upon arrival at Punt Road, he found he had something in common with the club’s resident superstar, who turned out to be nothing like the preconceived ideas the new recruit had of him.
Dustin Martin, Broad discovered, was more reserved and cared deeply about teammates.
The persona contradicted the tattoos in which the on-field aggressor and showman was covered. But the ink was an immediate link to the man who is now the raging Brownlow Medal favourite.
Some of Broad’s most prominent tattoos are “just because I like them”. Others, such as the unmissable ‘Broadie’ script decorating the right side of his torso, have more meaning.
“I’ve got a rose for every female member of my family; two nannas and my mum and that,” Broad said.
“I’ve got the swallows because they don’t forget where they’ve come from.”
Not that his mates back home would let him forget.
After a half-hour interview and before resuming his preparation for the weekend’s game – his fourth in succession since being recalled to the senior team — Broad will check his phone.
There will be “40 or 50” messages waiting to be read in a group chat with Perth-based friends.
Broad’s early strength was playing on the small forwards as a taller player.
But the 192cm defender lacked the aerial ability, core strength and technique to take on the big forwards.
Assistant coaches Ben Rutten and Ryan Ferguson have been crucial to his development, as has champion goal kicker Riewoldt.
“He’s someone I try to go to,” Broad said.
“He’s a very smart footballer and someone who’s willing to teach you while playing on you. He always wants to help you and help others.
“He’ll tell you things that forwards don’t like and how they run away from the space that they want to come back into.”
Publicly, Richmond players and coaches will tell you the 2017 season is a week-by-week prospect, despite the fact they occupy a top-four spot going into tomorrow’s date with Hawthorn at the MCG.
But the Tiger Army hasn’t enjoyed a finals win in 16 years.
Their last premiership was almost four decades ago and the bandwagon is reaching capacity.
“If we get a final here, Swan Street will be in lockdown. It will just be ridiculous,” said Broad, who has played the past three games and is desperate to hold his spot with four home-and-away matches remaining.
“But we’ve still got a lot of work to do before finals.
“We’ve got the Hawks this week, who are flying, so we try and keep a lid on it.
“The old cliche is one week at a time, but that literally is what it’s like with us at the moment.
“We’ll see how we go.”
https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/tattooed-tiger-nathan-broad-finds-a-kindred-spirit-in-dustin-martin-ng-b88558623z
