How They're Travelling: Taj HottonRFC website
4 Feb 2025Q: What is your mindset with the rehab?I am sort of taking it step by step. I am not really too fussed about when I get back.
I just want to do it right. So, I will just listen to all the doctors and physios at the Club, because I know I am in really good hands, and it'd be stupid to waste such a good opportunity like this.
So, yeah, I am just listening to the people that tell me what to do and I know I will get there eventually.
Q: Have you had many chats with the coaches about what roles you might be playing this year, or has your focus just been on getting yourself right for now?I have not had too many chats about what position. But I am training with the forwards at the moment, so listening into all of their meetings.
I think that obviously I will come through the VFL and sort of get to know the game plan a little bit more and get a feel of actually playing footy again, because it has been a little while.
We will just sort of see what happens and maybe I get a run in the midfield a bit later on. But as I said I am not really too focused on that at the moment. I just want to get my body right and get back out there.
Q: For the Richmond fans that might not have seen you play… Is that how you see yourself, as someone who is both a midfielder and a forward?I think throughout my time playing I have always seen myself as a midfielder. It is only in the last couple of years I have sort of developed my game into a forward as well.
It is good to have multiple strings to my bows and the skills to become a player that can go wherever.
But to be honest, yeah, I see myself long-term as a midfielder, but I am grateful that I learned how to play forward so that I can fill a gap wherever the team needs me.
Q: You seemed to hit the scoreboard a lot when you played forward last year?Yeah, and I think I can hit the scoreboard from the midfield as well, which is handy to have, but as I said, happy to play wherever the team needs me.
Q: Are you working closely with Chris Newman then?Yeah, him and Sam Lonergan. As forward coaches they have been unreal. ‘Newy’ is a great bloke himself. He is nice and relaxed and that is sort of the type of coach that I like playing under.
It has been good to learn off him and sort of pick his brain about forward structures and all that. I am really getting my head around it now.
Q: Are there any players that you have leaned on as well in the same sort of way?Rhyan Mansell and Seth Campbell. The small forwards have sort of taken me under their wing and I feel comfortable to ask them any questions if I don't understand anything. They are always really good at explaining and it has been really welcoming.
Seth had me over for dinner the other night and I met his girlfriend and saw his place. I am really lucky that I have got a good bunch of boys that I can go to work with every day.
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1712027/how-theyre-travelling-taj-hotton
