South Australian State Talent Manager Brenton Phillips believes new Richmond recruit Nathan Gordon is well-equipped to succeed in his second crack at AFL football.

Gordon, who spent three years with the Sydney Swans, for just two league games,  was taken by the Tigers with their second pick (No. 50 overall) in the recent National Draft, following a fine season at SANFL club North Adelaide.

“The pleasing part about it is that you are never out of the picture,” Phillips said.

“You can get second opportunities (at AFL level) through your performances, and that’s obviously what Nathan has done.

“He’s an accumulator of possessions and it’s pretty hard to teach people how to accumulate possessions.  He’s been able to do that quite nicely over the course of the year.”

Phillips, who played AFL football for Essendon and the Brisbane Bears, and won a Magarey Medal during an illustrious career at North Adelaide, also regards Gordon’s versatility as a decided asset in his quest to make the grade at Richmond.

Gordon, 187cm and 86kg, was used effectively, at times, throughout 2013 by North Adelaide, as a medium marking forward, finishing the season with 23 goals.

“He’s a good size footballer that everyone is looking for,” Phillips said.

“He can push through the midfield, as well as playing at both ends of the ground.”