The latest addition to the playing list at Tigerland, speedy, tenacious, mature-age defender, Rhyan Mansell, was interviewed by Richmond Media just after the Club’s announcement yesterday that it had secured his services via the AFL’s pre-season supplementary selection period. Here is what Mansell had to say about his new football life with the back-to-back reigning premiers . . .

Reaction to finally gaining an AFL opportunity

“Very pleased. It’s been a few years in the making now, but it’s all worth the wait, and I can’t wait to get into it this year. In my draft year I was devastated that I missed out. Looking back on it now, I probably wasn’t ready to move away from home. Stayed in Tassie for another year, didn’t have the year that I would have liked to have had, and then missed out . . . Then moved over to Adelaide and thought I had a pretty consistent year playing senior footy over there. When I got the call about this opportunity, I thought I’d make the most of my chances here . . . hopefully make it count, which I have. So, I’m stoked.”

Getting the good news

“I found out in Dimma’s office with Blair (Hartley) the list manager and Matty Clarke, the recruiter. It was a bit of a numb feeling . . . I wasn’t really expecting it. Words can’t really explain how I felt, and that’s still the case now.”

A premiership magnet

“I started off with cricket. That was sort of my sport until about under-17s year, so I was a couple of years behind most state footballers. Then I played for North Launceston senior footy club down in Tassie. Won three premierships in-a-row with them, and then went over to Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL and won another flag over there. So, I’ve been pretty lucky with success. Hopefully more to come.”

Conquering the big Bright bike challenge

“The camp at Bright was interesting. I thought it was going to be a bit gruelling. And then, when they got the mountain bikes out, I was like, maybe this isn’t going to be as bad as what I thought. I was totally wrong . . . 100km on the bike over two days and that big mountain that we climbed up together was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Some of the other boys were saying it was the hardest thing they’ve done – not just physically, but mentally. But we all got up to the top and it was a great feeling when we got there.”

His Tigerland journey to date

“I think just the whole experience here so far, the last six weeks, I’ve got to know everyone pretty well. They’ve all been very welcoming, and I just feel part of the group already. The camp, meshing in with the boys a bit more, talking about things three days in-a-row with them all day was good for me, obviously not knowing them and them getting to know me a bit more.”

The appealing aspects of playing at Richmond

“The fans and the culture. And there’s a lot of history, obviously. Great club, most successful club in the recent era . . . I can’t wait to run out and play on the ‘G’. The whole club is very attractive, so I can’t wait to play for them.”