BROADSIDE AT CRITICS
Critics served as inspiration for Richmond defence
HE has been used to proving the doubters wrong his whole life and Saturday’s Grand Final was no different for Richmond defender Nathan Broad.
Having been forced to wait until he was 22 to finally get drafted by an AFL club, Broad has always been someone who has thrived with his back to the wall.
At the start of the season he watched on as star backman Alex Rance went down with a knee injury that ultimately ruled him out for the 2019 season, and listened to the experts proceed to declare the Tigers could not win the premiership without him.
But Broad said the commentary surrounding Rance’s absence served as inspiration for the Richmond defensive group, who held GWS to a measly three goals in Saturday’s triumphant Grand Final victory.
“We probably took it pretty personally as a backline when all of the people in the media were saying that Richmond was done and couldn’t win it,” Broad said.
“So we took that pretty personally and it united us as a group because we wanted to prove all the doubters wrong and you can see what it has done.
“We are a stingy group, we don’t like to give up much and even in the last bit when we were up (by 80-odd points) the boys did not let a goal go in, so we have a stingy group.
“There might have been seven defenders play today but there are three or four others that have rolled through there and played their role. They deserve one of these (medals) but unfortunately they can’t get one.”
Broad played in the 2017 Grand Final win against Adelaide, but that match was just his 12th senior game for the Tigers and he conceded he felt like he was a greater part of this year’s success.
“I only missed one game this year so it makes you feel like you belong a bit more,” the 26-year-old said.
“I have 50-odd games under my belt, but it is the best thing about this group, it is not about touches, and Dimma (Damien Hardwick) has always said that as long as you play your role and do your part you will get a game.
“He has stuck true to that since I have been at the club and that is why we are such a great club.
“Obviously everyone had to reshuffle a little bit and it doesn’t just happen overnight, so we had to change the way we play a little bit with Rancey out.
“We had other injuries along the way, like Nank, and at the time you think the world is going to end but then you see a guy like Ivan Soldo step up.
“It is why the VFL has got a flag this year because they are consistently putting pressure on us with training standards, it is just such a great group.”