Pattison welcomes ruck relief
9:20 AM Sun 20 January, 2008
By Ben Broad
for richmondfc.com.au
OF ALL the people looking forward to a healthier ruck division at Punt Road this year, one suspects Adam Pattison might be the most excited.
Forced to carry much of the workload in the ruck in 2007 in what was just his third season at AFL level, Pattison believes he will be far better equipped for the rigours of senior football after another solid pre-season.
That’s not to say the 21 year old didn’t perform admirably last season.
In fact, he has shown enough in his 35 AFL matches to suggest the Tigers’ 16th pick in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft was well spent.
Last year however, much was asked of the youngster after Richmond’s big-man stocks were rocked by a string of serious injuries.
With a depleted list, coach Terry Wallace had few other options but to turn to Pattison, a long-term key position prospect with the ability to play in the ruck.
“Last year they knew I’d be going into games against [Freo’s Aaron] Sandilands and [West Coast’s Dean] Cox and stuff like that,” Pattison said.
“They’d just say ‘You’ve just got to give it your best and give a good contest’ so that was my aim last year.”
The Tigers enjoyed their first taste of match practice on Friday, playing a quarter at Victoria Park.
Pattison enjoyed a similar role to that of last season, roaming between the ruck and up forward.
The emerging talent said while the coach hoped he would spend more time closer to goal in 2008, he may well develop into a jack-of-all-trades this year.
“Plough sort of said he wants to see me up forward a bit more,” Pattison said.
“Hopefully we get Troy Simmonds back and with Tristan Cartledge, Dean Putt and Angus Graham, hopefully we’ve bolstered our ruck stocks a bit.
“So hopefully you know I can still be used in the ruck when I’m needed, also maybe hopefully up forward and then even maybe play on their tall sort of ruckman playing in the forward line.
“So yeah, a bit of everything they’ve said at the moment.”
Pattison has added a couple of kilograms of muscle to his 197cm frame, and hopes to play at around 97kg this season.
While he has spent much of the summer working with Tigers ruck coach Damien Monkhorst, he has also worked with Coburg coach Jade Rawlings, who has spent time working with Richmond’s forwards.
Having played his best football in his junior days across half forward, Pattison believes he could be most effective playing in that position this season.
“I’d like to maybe start as maybe like a high centre half-forward and maybe play up above Richo,” he said.
“I’m not too fussed really. If it means I [have to] start on the bench and come into the ruck or start back [to play] then I’ll do whatever.”
As for the prospect of serving an apprenticeship under Richardson, Pattison was open to the thought, although he points out he might take a while to graduate.
“That’d be great but the way he’s going at the moment he’ll be playing until he’s 40,” Pattison said.
“It could be a long apprenticeship.”
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