Ben Nason
Encyclopedia
Ben Nason is an Australian rules football
player for the Richmond Football Club
, in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL), but after being overlooked in the 2007
and 2008 AFL Draft
s, Nason moved to fellow SANFL club, Central District for the 2009 season, in an attempt to further his career. Whilst playing football for Central District, Nason also worked full time with a fibreglass company. 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. He finished 2009 having played 19 reserves games for a return of 29 goals, being named as an emergency in Central's SANFL Grand Final team 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. He also recorded 14.2 on the beep test at the AFL Draft Camp.
. Geelong
, Port Adelaide
, Fremantle
and Richmond
all showed interset in him, but Nason wasn't confident and "didn't think [he] would be drafted". Richmond, however, took the slightly built youngster with the 71st selection in the draft.
'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. However, the diagnosis proved to be hyper-extension and bone bruising, which only resulted in Nason missing two weeks and he played Richmond's remaining two pre-season matches.
Nason made his AFL debut against Carlton
in round 1, 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. He has become a cult figure at Richmond, well known for his blond dreadlocks.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player for the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Early life
Nason played Under 17 and Under 19 football for the Port Adelaide MagpiesPort Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL), but after being overlooked in the 2007
2007 AFL Draft
The 2007 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2007/08 Australian Football League off-season. These were trade week, the National Draft, the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft.- Trades :...
and 2008 AFL Draft
2008 AFL Draft
The 2008 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2008/09 Australian Football League off-season. These were Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft...
s, Nason moved to fellow SANFL club, Central District for the 2009 season, in an attempt to further his career. Whilst playing football for Central District, Nason also worked full time with a fibreglass company. 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. He finished 2009 having played 19 reserves games for a return of 29 goals, being named as an emergency in Central's SANFL Grand Final team 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. He also recorded 14.2 on the beep test at the AFL Draft Camp.
Draft
After an impressive 2009 season Nason was the subject of interest for the 2009 AFL Draft2009 AFL Draft
The 2009 AFL Draft consists of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2009/10 Australian Football League off-season. These were the Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft .- Trades :In the lead up to the trade week many high profile players such as...
. Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
, Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
, Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
and Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
all showed interset in him, but Nason wasn't confident and "didn't think [he] would be drafted". Richmond, however, took the slightly built youngster with the 71st selection in the draft.
2010: Debut season
Nason played in RichmondRichmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
's first pre-season match, against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
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. However, the diagnosis proved to be hyper-extension and bone bruising, which only resulted in Nason missing two weeks and he played Richmond's remaining two pre-season matches.
Nason made his AFL debut against Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in round 1, 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
Sam Mitchell (footballer)
Samuel Mitchell is an Australian rules football player for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League .- Debut season :...
was fined $900 for pulling Nason's hair. He has become a cult figure at Richmond, well known for his blond dreadlocks.