Young Richmond forward Brett O’Hanlon took plenty out of his first taste of AFL football, in the pre-season competition, this time last year . . .

O’Hanlon, who was the Tigers’ first selection in the 2011 pre-season draft, played a couple of games during the team’s 2012 NAB Cup campaign.

Although what he encountered in them was a fair way below the intense pressure of an AFL premiership season match, it was, nevertheless, an important stepping stone for the teenage recruit from TAC Cup team Dandenong Stingrays.

“In my first year at the Club, it was really good to get that experience in the first NAB Cup game, get a feel for it on the big stage with a good crowd.  It was just good to be out there for the first time,” he told ‘Roar Vision’.

“It also gives you confidence.  When you get to your first game, you’ve been there.

“It’s still pretty daunting when you come into your first proper AFL game, but the NAB Cup is a good experience.  You get a feel for who you’re playing with, your teammates . . . it’s good.

The main difference O’Hanlon found in his transition from TAC Cup football to the AFL, was the bigger bodies of his opponents . . .

“You hear about the AFL being a very fast-type game.  Under-18 footy was fast, but it’s another big step coming into AFL footy . . . bigger bodies, bigger hits.  You’re pretty sore after the game,” he said.

O’Hanlon made his senior league debut for Richmond in the Round 11 clash with Fremantle at the MCG and he managed to put together a total of eight games for the season.

 “Eight games in my first year was a real bonus,” he said.

“I didn’t really expect much coming into the season.  Getting my first game, and then going from there to play that many games, was a real bonus.

“I was happy with my first season and, hopefully, I can improve this year.”

O’Hanlon has been focused on a couple of key physical aspects in preparation for his second season at the game’s highest level . . .

“I’ve been trying to put on some size.  You need to put on some size playing against men,” the 19-year-old said.

“Speed is another definite one (focus area) . . . change of speed.”