EMERGING TigerShane Edwards has a new appreciation for coaches.
The club encourages its young players to each spend a week withthe coaching staff to study the planning that goes into each match.
Last week, Edwards and Will Thursfield stepped up to theplate, and this week it was the turn of Edwards, the 18-year-old SouthAustralian, to learn about the magnitude of the job the coaches do every week.
"It was very surprising," he toldrichmondfc.com.au after the Tigers' loss to the Hawks.
"It's just amazing to see how much they know about theother team. They watch games and can reel off things that have happened a fewyears ago with one player. It's so interesting."
Edwards said the experience also educated him about histeammates, and how their individual abilities are considered ahead of eachmatch.
"I was looking on David King's computer at the defence,and then going over to Brian Royal's and looking at the midfield, and stufflike that. It was really interesting," he said.
"I also got to learn a lot more about each player inthe team.
"All the players that have done it have really likedit, and it's just something that is different and lets us see what it takes tocoach."
Despite the Tigers' disappointing season so far, Edwards isloving life at Punt Road– even if he is yet to sing the club song after a match.
"It's awesome. We haven't had a great season, but I'mjust happy to be here," he said.
"I've made a lot of new friends and they're a greatbunch of blokes, and that's probably why we've stuck so tight through the hardtimes."
Like many other draftees, Edwards had to move away from homewhen he was picked up by Richmond.In hindsight, he believes the shift has made him a better person.
"I reckon I've grown a fair bit, moving away fromhome," he said.
"Playing out there in front of that many people is anexperience not many people get to have. I appreciate a lot more things now.
"I miss things from home, but I don't miss home thatmuch because I'm having so much fun here.
"It was difficult at the start, but the club allowed meto go home a couple of times on breaks over a weekend. When we played in Adelaide, I got to staythere for an extra night. But I reckon I'm enjoying Melbourne the more I'm here."
The nine-gamer now has one major focus: to spend as muchtime as possible in the gym to build up his 71kg frame.
"I'm working on it now, since the start really, but itwill take me a while to catch up to the other blokes," he said.
"It's probably my biggest goal, and we have a lot ofblokes at the club who have the same goal. All the skinny blokes do weightstogether, and we have a competition about who puts on the most.
"It keeps it interesting. Andy Collins might be winningat the moment, but he's got a lot more mud than any of the rest of us."
