Cartledge's cunning plan
richmondfc.com.au
By Mic Cullen
Fri 22 August, 2008
YOU HAVE to love it when a plan comes together.
Tristan Cartledge was taken in the 2002 draft by Essendon, but injuries and a lack of opportunities conspired against the young tall, and just seven games was the result.
Cartledge was delisted the Bombers at the end of the 2006 season, and after doing a pre-season with Hawthorn headed back to where he grew up to play with North Ballarat.
The idea was to go to uni, play against AFL-listed players, look impressive in doing so, and thus get back onto and AFL list.
It worked, with Richmond rookie listing him for the 2008 season, and last weekend the big man played his first game for the yellow and black.
It was the pay off for the year at Bendigo and a year of hard work and good form at Coburg.
"I knew I could get rookied, and then I was back in the system, and then there could be an opportunity to get back onto the senior list," he said.
"It's a terrific system, the rookie list, especially for the slightly older blokes who had injuries or were slightly later developers.
"I've been happy with the way I've been going at Coburg; it's been a really good year.
"Jade Rawlings has been really good for me, and he's been really happy with me throughout the year.
"I've just tried to enjoy my football with Jade and the Richmond and Coburg guys there, they've been fantastic."
The 23-year-old said Richmond coach Terry Wallace told him that he had been rookie-listed with a definite view to being elevated onto the senior list.
"I'd spoken to Terry a few times about it during the year, and he'd indicated to me that if there was injury he'd like to put me on the senior list, and that's come about, so that's been good for me."
Cartledge came into the Richmond team last weekend for their terrific win over second-placed Hawthorn, and Cartledge kicked his first goal in the AFL in more than three years.
"I was pretty nervous – straight in front, but I guess they're the ones you get nervous for, the easier ones," he said with a laugh.
"It was a good feeling, but I was a bit worried about what was going to happen if I missed it, but the boys were great, they got around me and they were very supportive.
"It really felt like we dominated that game – we led from start to finish and we never really felt that we could lose it, the way we were playing.
"I reckon the mood has been fantastic for most of the year, and the boys really want to finish off on a high note.
"We have to rely on other teams in relation to the finals, so we're just going about trying to win the last couple of games and finish 2008 on a good note."
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