After an injury-interrupted first couple of years of AFL football with Richmond, Kamdyn McIntosh is determined to make an impression in 2015.
The Club’s second pick (No. 31 overall) in the 2012 National Draft, has had a big pre-season and placed himself firmly in the sights of the Tiger selectors, as they prepare to name their team for the Round 1 clash with Carlton at the MCG.
He’s fitter, fresher, and more aware of what’s required from him in the heat of on-field battle.
“My first two years was more of a developing phase . . . I was trying to bust my butt to debut and play a few senior games, but this has been the best one (pre-season) yet. My fitness levels are through the roof from where they were,” McIntosh told ‘Roar Vision’.
“The main focus this pre-season was to get through the whole pre-season uninjured. I’ve had a few niggles here and there, but the main thing was in the gym, focusing on injury-prevention stuff . . .
“Definitely, the two main injuries I had in the first couple of years were a letdown. Hopefully, this year, I can get my body through the season and go from there.”
McIntosh, who turns 21 on April 3, the day after the Tigers’ season-opener, has worked diligently on improving his decision-making ability.
“I was lacking in decision-making, so that was a real emphasis this year in the pre-season,” McIntosh said.
“Me and ‘Ladey’ (assistant coach Brendon Lade) work pretty closely now. A whole lot of the stuff we do out on the track now is decision-making, and I feel that’s developed to a really good standard.
“We’re going to, in the next few weeks, sit down and have another chat about what the next goals will be.”
Having impressed as a hard-running, wingman throughout the AFL’s pre-season series, McIntosh is satisfied he’s given himself every chance of making his senior debut in Round 1.
“I feel like I’ve put my hand up with ‘Dimma’ (coach Damien Hardwick),” McIntosh said.
“Next week, I’ve just got to train well on Sunday and Wednesday, going into Thursday.
“I think all I’ve done in the pre-season has been enough . . . so we’ll just wait and hear what Dimma has to say with me.”
