Richmond forward Nathan Gordon will be playing to his strengths as a hard runner, as he aims to establish himself as a senior regular for the remainder of the 2014 season.

The 24-year-old played his first full game at AFL level since Round 6 this year, against Essendon last Friday night.

He impressed with his work rate, pressure inside forward 50, and ability to kick two goals at crucial times in the game.

These attributes are precisely those expected of the former Swan, by the Tigers’ coach Damien Hardwick.

“He just wants my work rate.  It’s one of my strengths, to work up and down the ground and work my players into the ground,” Gordon told Sportsday Radio.

“And just be an option, as a half-forward, and pop up in the forward line and, hopefully, kick a few goals.

“He just wants me to work hard and be an option for the other forwards.

“It’s always good to kick a few goals, especially for a player like me, trying to find my way.”

Gordon’s first goal against the Bombers came from a set shot in the third quarter, hemmed in near the boundary line, after he courageously went back with the flight of the ball and marked in front of Courtenay Dempsey.

The second was carefully slotted in the final term, after he won a free kick.

But, perhaps his best effort of the night, was a disallowed snap goal at the end of the third quarter, after some brilliant lead-up play involving Troy Chaplin, Nick Vlastuin and Dustin Martin.

“I got stitched in the third quarter there, with that goal on the siren.  I just wish the quarter went for three seconds longer,” Gordon said.

“It would have been a good goal on the back of some pretty tough work by Dusty in the forward line to get that ball out.”

Gordon has played eight games for Richmond in his first year at the Club, but he has started five of those as the substitute.

It’s a role which can be difficult to come to terms with, mentally.

“I was sub the last two weeks (before the Essendon game), and that was a pretty tough role, mentally, not knowing when you’re going to come on,” he said.

“You’ve got to make a big impact to stay in the team.”