A full year in the AFL system has been a significant benefit for rising Richmond star Nick Vlastuin.

The talented teenager, who made such an impact in his 2013 debut year of league football, feels so much better prepared – both on and off the field – for his second season at the game’s highest level.

“Even just the four games where I was an emergency (at the start of last season), with things like standing in the change-rooms, that held me in really good stead when I did come in.  And then, having 18 games under my belt, including the final, that’ll definitely help me,” Vlastuin said on this week’s edition of the Club’s official podcast, “Talking Tigers”.

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Following his second pre-season at Richmond, Vlastuin also is much more comfortable speaking up in front of his teammates.

“I didn’t want to tread on anyone’s feet (in 2013).  I didn’t really know too many of the blokes and what they were like, so I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way.  I just wanted to try and earn my stripes, I suppose . . ,” he said.

Vlastuin, who averaged 16.3 disposals per game in the 2013 season, playing predominantly across half-back, is likely to continue in that role for the foreseeable future, but he is keen for an eventual move into the midfield.

“At the moment, it’s 100% down back, but hopefully I can get a couple of minutes in the midfield,” he said.

“I think I’ve got to work on my ‘tank’ a lot more, to be able to run with the elite midfields.  So, hopefully I can do that over the next pre-season or two.”