Versatility is an understatement when it comes to the athletic ability of new Richmond VFL player, Ryan Bathie.

Before he was drafted to Geelong in the 2010 Rookie Draft, the 26-year-old had never played a season of football.

The former US College basketballer and Melbourne Tigers NBL player had only kicked around a football during high school competitions.

Growing up, his mother wouldn’t let him play AFL because she thought it was too rough.

So, the 193cm athlete focused on basketball instead, which led him to spend four years playing in the US for Nicholls State University in Louisiana.

After returning to Australia and playing one season with the Melbourne Tigers in the NBL, Bathie decided to “change it up a bit”, and switched his focus to football.

After a few phone calls and fitness tests with Geelong, Bathie had caught the attention of the club’s recruiters and he was on his way to becoming a Cat.

Although never making an AFL debut with Geelong, he played 55 VFL games with Geelong and was part of the club’s premiership VFL side in 2012.

And, in his relatively short football career, Bathie has already made the transition from key defender to key forward.

“I started off as a defender for two years, then halfway through last year they (the Geelong coaches) put me forward, sort of to learn my defensive aspects of where forward patterns are,” he said.

“I ended up kicking four goals in both of those games so they decided to keep me forward.

“I think I’m going to continue at that end of the ground and stay as a forward, I think I’ve got a bit more to offer attacking-wise, but if I’m needed down back I’m right to play down there as well.”

Coming from a football club with recent success, Bathie believes good club culture and team morale will contribute to on-field success.

“Having that same team for two years (at Geelong) really helped with the camaraderie with the team. As soon as we can get to know each other as quickly as possible here, I think that will be the key,” he said.

Training once a week with Richmond’s AFL team as well, Bathie’s attention is still solely on the sport of football, with a desire to get another chance at the top level.

“That was one of the main reasons why I signed here, to get a bit of exposure with the AFL boys every now and again,” he said.

“If I have a good year, hopefully something can prosper out of that again, so that my AFL ambitions aren’t cut too short.”

Click on the player above to watch the video with Ryan Bathie.