Emerging Richmond defender Nathan Broad credits the Club’s rehabilitation and conditioning coach, Rob Inness, with playing a major role in his impressive late-season form, as well as that of several other Tiger players who have returned from long-term injuries.

Broad damaged his shoulder on the eve of the opening round this season and subsequently spent 10 weeks in ‘rehab’ under Inness’ astute guidance.

The Tigers’ mature-age recruit from WAFL club Swan Districts came out of that fit, fresh and raring to go.

His on-field performances since, initially at VFL level, and then in AFL ranks over the past eight games, have been impressive enough to earn him a one-year contract extension at Tigerland.

“Rob’s outstanding the way he brings those rehab boys back,” Broad said on this week’s edition of the Club’s official podcast ‘Talking Tigers’.

“I think if you look at everyone that’s come back they’re almost in career-best form – Nick Vlastuin, Jack Graham, ‘Morro’ (Steve Morris) . . .

“He’s done a great job with all the boys.

“I had been playing on ‘smalls’ a lot more than ‘talls’ through my whole career. The coaching staff just wanted me to get a bit more aerial power with the bigger boys.

So I worked with Rob, just to get a bit stronger in the core, and on a lot of technique stuff.”

Broad is averaging 15.1 disposals and 4.8 marks per match in his eight AFL games this season.