Experienced Richmond key defender Troy Chaplin has marveled at the running ability of the Tigers’ mature-age recruit Nathan Gordon.

The 24-year-old Gordon, in just his third game for Richmond and his fifth AFL appearance all-up (two with the Sydney Swans as well), proved to be a “super sub” last Thursday night against Brisbane at the Gabba, coming on to the field during the third quarter and kicking three goals in the final term.

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“He’s an elite runner,” Chaplin said on SEN.

“We got emailed our GPS reports from the game and you can look into numbers a little bit too much, and for some supporters out there, it might not mean much, but his high-speed running was the most out of anyone in the game – and he’s played 30 minutes!  It’s just unbelievable.

“He’s a phenomenal runner and athlete.  He covered about six kilometres in 34 minutes of football, and that’s just ridiculous.

“It’s what you want from him.  As a sub, you want him to come on and have an impact. 

“I remember talking to ‘Dimma’ (Damien Hardwick) after the game back at the hotel.  He said he remembered one bit of play where he (Gordon) took a mark in the backline.  Obviously we moved the ball and all of a sudden he took a mark in the forward 50.

“All the coaches were going, ‘How the hell did he do that!’ 

“He really gives us something different . . .”