Ellis impresses as Tigers return to trackHerald-Sun
14 November 2015RICHMOND’S emerging midfielder Brandon Ellis picked up where he left off with an impressive start to another pre-season campaign.
Ellis was first across the line in an early morning time trial around Princes Park on Saturday morning.
He finished just ahead of midfielder Kamdyn McIntosh as fitness staff ticked off the returning fitness of a small group of the Tigers who ranged from second to fourth year players.
“The first one (time trial) is always the hardest one, I guess,’’ Ellis said.
“We’ve known about it for the last couple of weeks and the boys stressed about it a bit. But it’s over now and we can focus on footy until the Christmas break.’’
Ellis, 22, led the Tigers for marks and ranked second for kicks and handballs as one of 11 to play every game this season.
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“I’ve had four solid pre-seasons now and I know what it’s about. Over the break, we had set programs and I followed that through. If you do that, you’re going to come back in pretty good condition,’’ he said.
“I’ll be in the older boys group next year and will come back two weeks later which will be nice to get a bit longer break.’’
The young Tigers were buoyed by the appearance of captain Trent Cotchin and senior defender Troy Chaplin, who joined in part of the early Saturday morning workout.
Cotchin, just back from travel-disrupted Bali, ran part of the lap with Liam McBean while Chaplin stayed back to urge on young forward Reece McKenzie near the tail of the small field.
The rest of the senior list, including Cotchin and Chaplin, will start training for the 2016 season at the Tigers’ Punt Road headquarters in two weeks.
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