Richmond development coach Ryan Ferguson discusses the impressive return from long-term injury of the Tigers’ mature-age selection in the 2015 AFL National Draft, Nathan Broad, in this week’s ‘Coaches’ Corner’.
The nature of his injury
“It was a nasty incident (injured his AC joint at training). His shoulder was all out of whack there for a little while. He went off and got scans, even though they knew what was going on . . . it was quite apparent.”
The recovery process
“He had a bit done to his shoulder, just to secure it in place. From there it was a long way back, a lot of hard work, but he did that . . . He worked really hard over his time off and he has come back really strong. And he’s got his shoulder really strong, which is great. You wouldn’t know that he’s had a shoulder injury the way that he’s been playing and the way that he uses it . . . His form since he returned has been really outstanding. It’s been great to see.”
His running ability
“That was one of his strengths pre-injury, and he was able to keep his running up (in rehab), being a shoulder injury. He got a lot of work on the legs and he’s come back and used his power running as a real weapon in his last few games . . . He’s probably taken it to a new level, to be honest . . . He was a really good defensive runner, and since he’s come back, he’s incorporated that into the offensive side of his game. That has added an extra element to his game, which is great.”
Intercept improvement
“That’s something he’s added to his game, also. I worked with him early in the season about when he’s in position, to mark the ball, rather than to spoil . . . And, on the weekend, he took six intercept marks. So he’s added that to his game.”
One-on-one defensive development
“Another thing he’s been working on really hard is his strength over the ball – aerial and ground balls. He’s been really strong. He is a strong boy in the gym and he’s been able to transfer that on to the track and then into games.”
Increased versatility
“He can play as a tall, small, runner, an interceptor . . . He’s got some more aspects to his game these days . . . The last few weeks, he’s been playing on all types (of opponents). We’ve used him as a third-type defender. We like to get him up the ground and being able to run. But also, if there’s a third tall that’s important to them (the opposition), he can shut those down as well.”
Spending some time forward
“He likes the idea of that, too . . . He’s actually been a good linkmen, when he’s gone forward. He’s been able to get up the ground, take some marks, provide a bit of a link in the chain. And I think he’s enjoyed running around up the other end . . .”
Pressing for senior selection
“The way he played on the weekend . . . he’s in career-best form, and he’ll be putting his hand up to play senior footy. Obviously, the coaches have got to talk about that in match selection, but he’s doing all he can at the moment. Hopefully he gets a run shortly.”
