Kicking a goal at the MCG. It’s every junior AFL player’s dream and Nathan Richards can tick it off his bucket list.
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But to get a second chance and kick a nice little snap was amazing.
- Nathan Richards
The goal came after the Griffith Swans junior initially missed a shot at achieving the milestone while playing in the green and gold for the AIS-AFL Under 18s side.
“That was an unbelievable feeling,” Richards said of the goal.
“I had a set shot from out on the wing but ended up missing, I was filthy.
“But to get a second chance and kick a nice little snap was amazing. Not that there were that many people in the crowd but I can only imagine what that would be like.”
Richards made the move to Sydney this year to progress his AFL career and has gone from strength to strength.
Along with matches with the national under 18s side – the squad played a match against each other and against VFL side the Northern Blues – Richards played his first North East Australian Football League match for the year for GWS over the weekend and also turned out for the Giants in the Under 18s Academy Series alongside fellow Griffith Swan Jacob Conlan.
Being able to pair up with his good mate has been another highlight for Richards.
“Jacob Conlan has been by my side in the Under 18s Academy Series,” Richards said.
“He’s one of my really, really good mates and has played some really good footy.
“We’ve both had some solid years with a lot of hard work and we’ve got another six months [until the draft] of hard work to get us, fingers crossed, to a club and that’s where the real hard work starts.”
Richards’ focus turns back to the GWS Academy side for the next two weeks with matches against Northern Territory and the Brisbane Lions.
The goal is to make the representative side, known as the Allies, from the series to play in the under 18s championships against Victorian, South Australian and Western Australian sides.
“Hopefully I get selected in the Allies side like I did last year,” Richards said.
“That’d be a really good experience and after that I’ll be dedicated to the Giants NEAFL side.
“Then, fingers crossed, hopefully I get to come back to play a game or two with the Griffith Swans.”