This time last year, tough teenage midfielder Matthew Arnot was on top of the world after being taken by Richmond at pick 55 overall in the 2011 AFL National Draft.

The then 18-year-old had played a pivotal role in his TAC Cup team Oakleigh Chargers’ push to the grand final of the under-18s competition that season, but was considered to be on the fringes of draft selection, rather than a certainty to be drafted.

When the Tigers’ Recruiting Manager, Francis Jackson, called his name out during the third round of the 2011 Draft, he was elated.

“I was at home with my family.  I wasn’t particularly expected to get picked up, but I knew there was a chance, because I had the Richmond boys over on Tuesday night and I knew that I’d be able to get rookied or, if not, maybe pick 55,” Arnot told “Roar Vision”, after arriving at Tigerland late last year.

“I think there was a good three-minute pause at pick 54 . . . when my name got read out, I just couldn’t believe it. “I’m just happy that I experienced that with my family.

“It was a very emotional time . . .

“I’m just glad to be given the opportunity to represent myself and represent the Club.
“I know that being an AFL footballer, you just can’t walk into the ranks - you’ve got to work your way up and that’s just something I look forward to.

“The whole process of getting your opportunity to play and representing your team and representing the jumper, means a lot to me . . .”

Arnot, in typical style, worked extremely hard over the pre-season, but during the early part of the 2012 season, he sustained a nagging soft tissue injury, that brought a premature end to his debut league football year.

His outlook on the game at the highest level, however, hasn’t changed.

“At this point in time, I’ll just take it one step at a time, and that’s the key.  Don’t get too ahead of yourself and just develop like that,” he said.

Watch the video above to see Matthew Arnot's arrival to Punt Road.