RICHMOND fans keep your eyes peeled; premiership defender Jayden Short is coming to a home near you.
The 24-year-old has turned to life as a local footballer, combining his shutdown training load with working four days a week as a carpenter.
Less than a fortnight after playing in the Tigers' round one win over Carlton, Short has joined a former schoolmate on the tools after being forced away from the club.
With games off until at least May 31, players across the AFL are dispersing to part-time work before they are recalled to training – a move that will come four weeks before a return to play is announced.
Short has opted to put into action a carpentry apprenticeship he gained in a program via the Tigers in recent years.
"I'm doing four days this week with a mate of mine, he's out on his own," Short told AFL.com.au this week.
"He probably doesn't need me but he's giving me a chop-out with some work which is really good of him.
"We've doing anything that needs to be done, hanging some doors, putting a roof on a pergola. It's been good not just being tied down at one house."
Drafted as a rookie ahead of 2015, Short has quickly become one of the Tigers' most damaging backmen after narrowly missing selection for the 2017 flag.
And after leading the competition in metres gained in 2018, he tasted premiership success for the first time last year.
But that's quickly forgotten on the worksite.
"You definitely become a lot more grateful for what we've got playing football, I tell you what, not having to wake up at 5.30am every morning," he said.
"We get to go to the club, everything's there, lunch is served for us.
"Even preparing your lunch the night before it's something different and I'm enjoying that at the moment.
"I actually had a Thai green curry for lunch on Thursday. Have been going with tuna, salmon, rice and stuff like that. I haven't really gone down the tradie lunches just yet."
Once the work day is done, Short clicks back into football mode, completing three running and skills sessions a week with teammate – and fellow builder – Kamdyn McIntosh who has been working on Tiger Jason Castagna's house.
"It's obviously a bit different, working a full day on the tools and then have to bust your arse and continue to stay fit," he said.
"It gives you more appreciation for what our VFL boys do and the local footballers."
When he's not making a midweek pork roast, Short is attending to the gym circuit and stationary bike he's set up in his bungalow.
And then there's the all-in teleconference chats via 'Zoom' to check in on what his Tiger teammates are up to.
The bonus – housemate and premiership teammate Liam Baker has vacated and returned home to regional WA to give him a bit more breathing space away from the tools.
