Richmond’s mature-age recruit, Orren Stephenson, showed in last Saturday’s pre-season competition clash with Essendon at Wangaratta that he has the capacity to provide valuable back-up to the Club’s No. 1 ruckman Ivan Maric throughout 2013.

With Maric being rested, Stephenson took on the Bombers’ formidable big-man brigade of Tom Bellchambers, Paddy Ryder and David Hille, and thrived on the challenge.

Stephenson, who played eight games for Geelong in his debut season of AFL football last year, was one of the Tigers’ best in their eight-point victory, with 14 possessions and 19 hit-outs.

Most importantly, he gave the Tiger team a strong contest at the centre bounces and around the ground.

Competitiveness is a key focus for the four-time VFL premiership player . . .  

“I think the biggest thing a ruckman can do is lay a platform,” Stephenson said on this week’s episode of the Club’s official podcast, “Talking Tigers”.

“I was pretty disappointed coming out of Alice Springs (where Richmond played the Indigenous All Stars in early February) because I wasn’t competitive enough in the first half.

“You don’t have to be a superstar, just set a tone for the midfield group and put your body where it needs to be, in the way.

“It’s pretty basic sort of footy, and it doesn’t have to be anything too special.”

The 30-year-old is relishing the opportunity of being involved with Richmond’s band of gun midfielders.

“My first experience with them (the Tiger midfielders) was last year in the NAB Cup game down at Simonds (Stadium).  They pretty well smashed us down at Geelong that  day,” he said.

“So, it was really exciting to get the opportunity to play with guys like ‘Cotch’, ‘Dusty’ Martin and Brett Deledio.”

Stephenson admits the league’s substitute rule makes it more difficult for teams in today’s game to play two genuine ruckmen, but being the spirited character that he is, it’s not something that deters him.

“One of the bonuses here at Richmond is that Tyrone (Vickery) can play that pinch-hit ruck role, so I think that’s probably game plan A for the coaching group,” he said.

“But I’m certainly going to be putting pressure on to give myself an opportunity.  That’s certainly what my plans are.”