Hartigan’s a Bomber
Bendigo Advertiser
20 December 2007 - 5:00AM
FORMER Richmond player Brent Hartigan will attempt to revive his AFL career with the Metricon Bendigo Bombers next year.
Hartigan last night signed with Bendigo’s VFL club for the 2008 season, becoming the first ex-AFL player the club has recruited during the pre-season.
The 22-year-old played 35 AFL games with Richmond after being drafted by the Tigers from the Calder Cannons with selection 70 in the 2003 National Draft and will be part of Bendigo’s midfield rotation.
He endured an injury-interrupted four-year stint with the Tigers before being delisted at the end of this season.
‘‘Brent’s main goal for next year is to get on an AFL rookie list,’’ Bombers coach Adrian Hickmott said last night.
‘‘He is a committed young player, he knows what it’s like to be an elite athlete and he brings four years of AFL experience, which is exceptional.
‘‘And that will be important because we will have a young list with an average age of about 19 or 20.
‘‘He has come from the AFL system where you are full time and have to be very committed and disciplined.
‘‘His body is mature; he has been lifting weights full time for four years, so those little aspects will make him fantastic because he will bring some real knowledge to the club.’’
Hartigan - a Rising Star nominee in 2004 - will join former Adelaide Crow Hayden Skipworth as the only ex-AFL players on the Bombers list next season.
Hartigan, whose sole AFL game this year was against Hawthorn in round 15, will be based in Melbourne, but will travel to Bendigo each Wednesday for the club’s main training session.
‘‘He seems very committed and sound in what he is trying to achieve for next year, and I reckon that can flow on to our young players,’’ Hickmott said.
‘‘It would have hurt him being delisted, but I reckon that will sharpen his training ethics, his work ethic, and his commitment will show out, not only on the ground on game day, but at training when he comes up on a Wednesday.’’
Hartigan said he was determined to play a season of consistent football in the VFL in the hope of getting on an AFL list again.
‘‘These days (AFL) clubs will take a punt if they know you are playing well enough, so hopefully, my form can be good enough to do so,’’ said Hartigan, who grew up barracking for Essendon.
Hartigan says one of the biggest attractions to Bendigo is the enthusiasm and professionalism of Hickmott.
‘‘He has a young group of players coming together and he wants to build something,’’ Hartigan said.
‘‘Hopefully, I can bring a bit of experience because it is a young side.’’
Richmond football operations manager Paul Armstrong said Hartigan was well regarded at Punt Road, but he was sorely hampered by injuries.
‘‘In his first couple of seasons with the club Brent showed a lot of promise,’’ Armstrong said.
‘‘He was a very skilful running player, but injuries stifled his development.
‘‘Over the past couple of years a variety of injuries prevented him from playing at senior level.
‘‘It was a difficult decision at the end of the year to delist Brent, but we had to make space on the list for new names coming in.’’
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