Ben Nason

Ben Nason
Personal information
Full nameBen Nason
Date of birth3 June 1989
Original teamCentral District (SANFL)
Draft71st overall, 2009 Draft
Richmond
Height/Weight1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) / 73 kg
Position(s)Forward / Midfield
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2010–2011Richmond23 (17)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 2011 season.

Ben Nason (born 3 June 1989) was an Australian rules football player for the Richmond Football Club, in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Nason played Under 17 and Under 19 football[1] for the Port Adelaide Magpies[2] in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), but after being overlooked in the 2007 and 2008 AFL Drafts, Nason moved to fellow SANFL club, Central District for the 2009 season,[1] in an attempt to further his career. Whilst playing football for Central District, Nason also worked full-time with a fibreglass company.[2] He played the majority of the season in Central's reserves team, although he did play two games in the senior team, kicking a goal in his first game.[1] He finished 2009 having played 19 reserves games for a return of 29 goals,[1] being named as an emergency in Central's SANFL Grand Final team[1] and he caught the eye of AFL recruiters when he was one of the best players in a practice match between South Australia's Under 20 side and their Under 18s team.[2][3] He also recorded 14.2 on the beep test at the AFL Draft Camp.[1]

AFL career

Draft

After an impressive 2009 season Nason was the subject of interest for the 2009 AFL Draft. Geelong, Port Adelaide, Fremantle and Richmond all showed interest in him,[2] but Nason wasn't confident and "didn't think [he] would be drafted".[3] Richmond, however, took the slightly built youngster with the 71st selection in the draft.[3]

2010: Debut season

Nason played in Richmond's first pre-season match, against Hawthorn on 13 February, but suffered an injury, which caused him to be taken off the ground on a stretcher and a serious knee injury was feared.[2][4] However, the diagnosis proved to be hyper-extension and bone bruising,[4] which only resulted in Nason missing two weeks and he played Richmond's remaining two pre-season matches.[2]

Nason made his AFL debut against Carlton in round 1,[2] although he had not expected to make his debut so soon. He had 10 disposals and kicked a goal in an impressive performance. Nason has played every game for the Tigers in season 2010 and has been noted as one of Richmond's many exciting, young players. In a round 8 match against Hawthorn, Hawks captain Sam Mitchell was fined $900 for pulling Nason's hair.[3] He became a cult figure at Richmond, well known for his blond dreadlocks.,[3] however, he cut his hair in 2011. He was delisted at the conclusion of season 2011, aged 22.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Ben Nason". Official AFL Website of the Richmond Football Club. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Quayle, Emma (9 May 2010). "Tiger growing in stature". The Age. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Conn, Malcolm (4 June 2010). "Ben Nason mirrors Richmond's new breed who like its wicked song". The Australian. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cullen, Mic (24 February 2010). "Nason's mixed emotions". Official AFL Website of the Richmond Football Club. Retrieved 7 August 2010.

External links