Matt Arnot is hell-bent on giving season 2015 his very best shot.

Having cast off the disappointment of being delisted by Richmond at the end of last season, before subsequently being redrafted as a rookie at Tigerland, Arnot knows it’s not going to be an easy road reclaiming a place on the Club’s primary playing list – but he’s well and truly up for the challenge.

“It (the decision to delist him, with a promise that he’d be rookied) was an interesting one because you’re told that you’re still training, and that you’re still a part of the group, yet you almost have to fight for your position back,” Arnot told ‘Roar Vision’.

Become a Richmond member for the 2015 season

“I’ve had a couple of years now, where I’ve been injured here and there, but just consistently my performance hasn’t been good enough. 

“So I’ve attacked this pre-season as if it’s my last because, if you don’t play well consistently in this year, it probably will be.  You’ve got to be realistic in that . . .

Arnot was one of the best players in a young, inexperienced line-up that Richmond took into last Saturday’s opening round match of the AFL’s pre-season competition, against the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval. 

“I’d been really focusing on my accountability to my defensive aspect of the game.  I thought I had a good game on the weekend, so we’ll see what happens from there,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of players coming back in NAB 2, so whatever happens, happens.  I’ll be pretty excited if I do play, and I’ll take that opportunity. 

“To this stage, I haven’t missed a pre-season session, so I’ve been really excited about how I’ve been going . . .”

Arnot, who was initially taken by the Tigers at pick 55 overall in the 2011 National Draft, has made eight senior appearances all-up, with four of those coming last season.

He has developed into a tough, inside midfielder, who can also impact across half-forward, but is fully aware there’s hot competition to secure that type of role in Richmond’s senior side.  

“We’ve got probably about 10-15 players who can play that role and do it really well,” Arnot said.

“So it’s hard, and it’s going to be a tough challenge.  But it’s all about how you’re playing as a person, and how you’re playing as a footballer as well. 

“I mean, it doesn’t matter whether you’re playing AFL or VFL, as long as you’re trying to improve yourself and get yourself to become the best footballer you can become.  That’s the ideal goal.”