In the countdown to the 2014 National Draft on Thursday, we continue our 2013 Richmond draftees’ reflections. Today, we focus on mature-age pick-up Nathan Gordon.
The draft experience
“I hadn’t been involved in a draft before. I was at the Swans on a scholarship list . . . I got to train and play with the Swans during that time, and got rookied at the end of 2010. So, this was my first (draft) experience. I was actually finishing off the SANFL year (with North Adelaide) at the time, so I attended the draft combine, but didn’t do any testing. I took off early to play in a grand final three days later.”
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Shock and relief on draft night
“I was in Adelaide, and it was a couple of weeks after we’d finished the season. We’d lost the grand final, and I was just waiting on my (football) fate . . . So, I was in the lounge-room of my mates’ house, with a couple of North Adelaide teammates and some of the coaching staff. We were just waiting and having a few drinks. If I was going to get drafted, I knew it was going to be late. When Richmond called me at pick 50 everyone erupted, except for me. I was just a bit shocked . . . But it was a really good feeling. A lot of relief from getting knocked back by Sydney.”
Cagey Tigers
“I knew that North Adelaide had been speaking to Richmond, but I, personally, didn’t speak to them until the draft . . . I sat in a room with a few of the coaching staff. Luckily ‘Choco’ (Mark Williams) wasn’t there . . . I’d heard a lot about Choco. And, ‘Dimma’ wasn’t there. I think it was late at night, so they were probably home having dinner or something. But that was the only time I spoke to them. So, I was really surprised (to get selected by the Tigers).”
At ease second time round
“I definitely came in very comfortable to my new club. I’d seen most of it before, so I was more confident than I was when I was at the Swans. I was still a kid at the Swans, and I think being drafted as a mature-age, you’ve got that background and then you’ve got all those things you’ve learned along the way. So, that helped me a lot.”
Next goal
“I finished off the year really strongly, and one of my goals is to play all the games next year. That’s what I’ll be looking to do.”
Out of the Draft: Nathan Gordon
In the countdown to the 2014 National Draft on Thursday, we continue our 2013 Richmond draftees’ reflections. Today, we focus on mature-age pick-up Nathan Gordon.
