New Richmond recruits Sam Lonergan, Orren Stephenson and Ricky Petterd. Picture: David Smith Source: Herald Sun
MATURE-aged rookie Orren Stephenson is confident there is still plenty of room for his game to grow after being thrown a lifeline by Richmond.
The 30-year-old recruit felt he made some big gains in his 12 months as an AFL player, but feared his chances of extending his league fairytale beyond one season were thin.
Stephenson played eight games for Geelong this year, before being de-listed by the Cats after the arrival of former Kangaroos ruckman Hamish McIntosh in the trade period.
Stephenson was given another chance after being rookie-listed by the Tigers and is convinced he will be a better player next year.
"I am just stoked to get another opportunity to play AFL footy, or the chance to be on the AFL program for another year," Stephenson said.
"I certainly felt the gains that I made in this 12 months just gone were pretty big, so I think there is still plenty of opportunity for me to grow as well.
"I think the biggest thing was that I am aware that I am more than capable of playing AFL footy.
"I know after one pre-season and now another full pre-season I am going to be a lot better again."
Stephenson was one of the feelgood stories of the 2011 national draft when he was taken by the Cats at No.78 after playing in three consecutive VFL flags with North Ballarat.
He made his AFL debut in Round 1 against Fremantle and finished the year with another VFL flag, this time with the Cats - his fourth.
But two months in "limbo" after his departure from Geelong, Stephenson had started planning for the prospect that his short taste of AFL could be over.
"I had started to open the doors back up into my work side of things," the father of three admitted.
"But I was a firm believer that if an opportunity arose I would take it on and it did."
Stephenson was one of three "recycled" players rookie-listed by the Tigers, along with ex-Essendon midfielder Sam Lonergan and delisted Melbourne forward Ricky Petterd.
"It's exciting times, another opportunity for the three of us," he said.
NORTH Melbourne has taken a two-year punt on an American college basketballer Eric Wallace.
The 24-year-old has been signed as an international rookie list player.
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