Tigers youngster driven by North snub
Richmond defender Rhyan Mansell says he is spurred on by North Melbourne’s decision to bypass him in his draft year, having been a member of the Kangaroos’ next generation academy.
Mansell, 20, played in a winning AFL side for the first time on Thursday night as the Tigers crushed St Kilda by 86 points at Marvel Stadium.
New Tiger Rhyan Mansell.Credit:Getty Images
The speedy backman had traversed a circuitous route to get to such a stage. The Indigenous Tasmanian was a member of North’s NGA and is the cousin of emerging Roo Tarryn Thomas, but the Roos opted against taking Mansell in his draft year of 2018.
Fellow Tasmanian and former Tiger Sam Lonergan helped get him to Woodville-West Torrens at the end of 2019. Lonergan is now on Richmond’s coaching panel, reunited with Mansell.
After a strong 2020 in the SANFL, Mansell again slipped through the draft but was invited to train over the summer for a supplemental selection period spot at Punt Road.
He got the nod in late February, making his senior debut in round four against Port Adelaide.
“I don’t even really know how to explain it, to be honest. I never thought that this would happen. The last two weeks have just been a big blur to me and I’m trying to take in as much as I can,” Mansell said as he enjoyed the spoils of the win over the Saints.
Mansell credits Lonergan and Woodville-West Torrens coach Jade Sheedy as the men most responsible for igniting his AFL dream.
“I definitely wouldn’t be in this position right now if I hadn’t have made the move across to Adelaide and played for the Eagles last year,” he said.
When he arrived at Punt Road, Mansell was determined not to have any regrets.
“I didn’t want to leave any stone unturned, I wanted to give it my best and if I wasn’t good enough, so be it. But I put everything into it and trained real hard over Christmas break and I thought coming in I felt like I belonged straight away.”
And he says there is a part of him keen to make North pay for their decision not to take him.
“They didn’t see the potential in me. Richmond have taken the punt on me and they saw all the potential in me, so credit to Richmond for backing me in and giving me a good crack,” Mansell said.
“I spent a couple of years on North Melbourne’s next-gen academy and it didn’t work out and I definitely use that as a lot of motivation to where I’ve got to now.
“They had the chance to get me for near nothing as well so I was a bit flat that I didn’t get there. Obviously, my good cousin Tarryn, he’s there. It would have been awesome to play with him, but it’s worked out perfectly.”
While North languish at the bottom of the ladder, Mansell is running out with champions like Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt.
“I definitely pinch myself a bit, when I’m running out beside Dusty and Riewoldt, Cotchin, it doesn’t feel real to be honest, it feels like a dream.”
He says he’d been told by the Tigers’ coaches he’d been picked in the seniors because “I play like a ‘Richmond man’.
“My competitiveness and for a small bloke the physical side of the game. And my speed as well.”
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