After spending the first four years of his AFL career with Richmond as a small defender, Nick Vlastuin has spent this pre-season preparing for a midfield role in 2017 – and he’s relishing the change.

Vlastuin has been a valuable contributor in the Tigers’ two JLT Community Series matches, playing through the midfield and resting up forward.

He finished with 13 disposals, three marks, four tackles and a goal in last Sunday’s win against Port Adelaide at Mt Gambier.

“It’s been a couple of years in the making (the move into the midfield), just working on the fitness base and stoppage work,” Vlastuin said on RSN.

“I’ve just been working with the midfield group all over this pre-season, and I’ve been doing alright, I suppose . . .

“There’s a bit more freedom in the midfield, and I get to work alongside ‘Cotch’ (Trent Cotchin) and ‘Dusty’ (Dustin Martin).”