Promising, young midfielder, Reece Conca, is feeling right at home, at Tigerland, in his second season of AFL football.

Conca, who was taken by Richmond at pick six overall in the 2010 National Draft, played 17 games in his 2011 debut season, earning a league Rising Star nomination along the way.

This year, he has taken another significant step in his football development.

He is averaging 19.3 disposals per game in his 15 appearances so far this season for Richmond, racking up 20-plus in his past four matches (against Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and North Melbourne), and a career-high 29 back in the Round 3 clash with Melbourne.

The teenager from WAFL club, Perth (he turns 20 next month) has embraced the whirlwind nature of football at the game’s highest level . . .

“It’s all gone pretty quick.  Last year, first season, flew by,” he said.
“But I’m loving Richmond and loving being over here in Melbourne.

“It’s been great.  Obviously, moving over from Perth, it’s been a real change, but I’m loving every minute of it and just looking forward to the future.”

Conca has already filled a number of on-field roles into his second season with the Tigers, which doesn’t faze him, although his preference is playing in the midfield.
“I’ve just been playing wherever the coaches want me, wherever they need me,” he said.

“I like to be around stoppages . . . get my head in and under a bit.”

Away from football, Conca has resumed the psychology and commerce course that he was studying before being drafted by Richmond.

“I took a year off in my first year, just to focus on footy, but I’ve picked that up again this semester,” he said.

“I’m doing one unit of psychology, which is good, a bit refreshing . . . take your mind of footy and have something down the track.”