Star NFL quarterback Cam Newton sent Tigerland abuzz this week, when he dropped by the ME Centre for a two-day visit.

Newton, from the Carolina Panthers, was in town as part of the Gatorade Football Exchange Program, spending time with the players and coaches while in the NFL off-season.

He attended last Saturday’s match between Richmond and GWS at the MCG, and joined in the Tigers’ football program on Monday and Tuesday, taking part in meetings and training sessions.

It was a thrill for many on Richmond’s playing list, who follow the NFL closely.

“It’s been an unbelievable experience, with so many great guys.  It’s a Grade A program,” Newton told Matthew Richardson on Roar Vision.

“I’m trying to sharpen my edge, and trying to learn anything from the Richmond Tigers and the overall league, that I can take back and incorporate to my training,

“I’m trying to find any and every way to incorporate some of the things they’re doing, that can translate over to the NFL.”

Newton was particularly impressed when he joined in the team’s game review meeting on Monday.

“They captivated my attention the whole time.  Coach (Damien Hardwick) spoke about a couple of things I’m going to take back with me,” he said.

“One thing that stood was, he said ‘it may not be your game, but it always can be your moment’.

“That really hit home for me, and I’d be sure to keep that in my heart come game time.

“I’m leaving with a new-found respect for a sport, and I’ll always be entangled in trying to find out about it.

“Not only the sport, but the Richmond Tigers.”

Cam Newton is currently in Australia with Richmond Football Club for the Gatorade Football Exchange Program learning about Aussie Rules Football, training with the team and taking some of the skills he learns back to the NFL playing field. Additionally, he will sit through team meetings and training meals to see how the AFL players train, practice and fuel their bodies in preparation for their season.  At the professional level it is all about preparation, and proper fueling and nutrition is critical to perform at your best.

Gatorade Football Exchange is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that provides athletes from American Football and Australian Rules Football an opportunity to immerse themselves in the training and culture of another footballer’s sport to demonstrate that different forms of football played throughout the world and that athletes from these various sports all share the same formula for success: talent + hard work + the right sports fuel.