Jayden Short joined Konrad Marshall, a devoted Richmond supporter and Senior Writer for Good Weekend and The Age, on the first episode of Konversations with Konrad, sharing the untold stories of key Club figures.

While his football career was on top of the world, Jayden Short was at rock bottom.

On the way to collecting his second premiership medal with Richmond in as many years, Short had a completely different fight on his hands.

His father was battling cancer, passing away at the end of 2019, months before Short would go on to win the Jack Dyer Medal, crowned the Club's best and fairest in the Covid-affected 2020 season.

Now, the 29-year-old has opened up on learning to navigate his football while grieving his father, on the first episode of Richmond's Konversations with Konrad.

"It was tough. That's the worst thing that's ever happened to me, to be honest," Short said.

"Dad was sick for probably six years, had cancer. When someone (gets) cancer, you're just sort of, preparing yourself for the worst all the time.

"I probably spent six years preparing myself for the day dad died, really."

Short reflected positively on the success he did get to share with his father.

"I look back now and I'm grateful for the time," he said. 

"Obviously dad was sick, it was the worst thing ever seeing him go through that, but (I'm) just grateful for the time I got to spent with him.

"He (saw) me win (the premiership) in 2019 and it was like, 'how good's that?'."

Away from his home life, Short also found solace in being a leader around Punt Road.

Early in his career, he lived with Tigers great Kane Lambert, who became a father figure for the-then teen.

"I've mentioned the impact Kane had on my life. I was an 18-year-old kid, you don't really know what life is," Short said.

"He was 23 when he was drafted and he had to really bust his arse to get a gig at Richmond. He spent five or six years - probably even longer - in the VFL system dominating and then not really getting a chance.

"As a 23-year-old kid, he took me in, taught me a lot of life lessons. He's one of my best mates and someone I really respect."

Short has now imparted the wisdom from Lambert onto the next generation of Tigers, with winning ways at the top of his agenda.

"We had some great young talent come in. I've been very impressed by the guys we brought in. Their character, mainly," he said.

Sam Lalor, Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong, all from the 2024 Draft class, debuted in the Round 1 win over Carlton.

The win was the perfect start, with the mentality and hunger for success now ingrained in those youngsters, like it was in Short when he debuted back in 2016.

"To show the young guys who came in, and the young guys last year, who didn't get many wins, the feeling of a win, how exciting it is and what a difference it is compared to losing," Short said.

"The young guys have got that feeling now, where they want to keep striving for it (success).

"I'm grateful we had the win. It puts into perspective what a win can do for the group. I'm hoping these young guys can start thriving off the feeling of winning."

Join Konrad Marshall every second Wednesday for Konversations with Konrad. Assistant Coach Steve Morris is the next special guest.