AFL Grand Final parade: Richmond's Nathan Broad reveals memory loss
Richmond defender Nathan Broad has revealed the startling impact of his preliminary final concussion as Tigers and Giants fans flooded city streets for the Grand Final parade.
Richmond defender Nathan Broad says he didn’t believe the Tigers were into the Grand Final after suffering a heavy concussion in the preliminary final win.
Broad has got the all-clear to play in the premiership decider after passing a range of tests at training this week.
Broad revealed he does not remember anything about the Tigers’ preliminary final comeback win over Geelong and had to check the official scores on the internet the next morning before he would believe his housemate, and teammate Brandon Ellis.
Stream every match of the 2019 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >
“For some reason, my brain thought it was the first final, so I thought we were into a prelim,” Broad said.
“’Brando’ said ‘Nah it’s a Grand Final this week, but I didn’t believe him. I thought he was tricking me. So I said ‘Nah I’m not falling for that mate’.
“So I had to check the AFL app and even go through the app to see my name.
“So, it was a crazy morning, it was an exciting morning.
“But I don’t remember anything about the game itself, or Friday at all, it is all a blur.”
Broad, 26, copped the knock in the third term when he collided with teammate Jayden Short and then fell on to Brandan Parfitt’s knee on the way down.
Broad said he woke up in the spare bedroom of the house the next morning and worried that day that he would be in doubt for the big one.
But the backman has done everything at training to prove his fitness.
“I was worried I was going to have a delayed concussion, but as the week has gone on I haven’t had a headache,” he said.
“I feel amazing and I’ve had a few big hits at training and it’s all good, so I’m ready to go.”
The hype around Richmond’s crazy pressure levels might have diluted but that is still the main metric for small forward Jason Castagna.
Forward pressure was the cornerstone of the Tigers’ 2017 premiership although coach Damien Hardwick’s remodelled gameplan now has the club’s piercing ball movement as its No.1 asset.But for Castagna – who recorded six score involvements in last week’s preliminary final – harassing remains king.
“For sure. Dimma has always told me that as a small forward and us other small forwards that if bring our pressure then we’re going to get a game,” Castagna told the Herald Sun.
“He’s given me great confidence in my role just to do that, so I guess I’ve just stuck to that and that’s still our game.”While fellow premiership forward Dan Butler has fallen out of favour, playing just seven games this season, Castanga has once again been a mainstay.
The 181cm forward has booted a career-best 27 goals in 2019 and has missed just three games in the past three years. “I think I’ve just tried to play my role,” he said.
“At times I’ve had some quiet games this year but as long as I’m doing what the team needs of me then I think that’s enough to keep my spot.
“And I think that’s what I’ve done.”
- Sam Landsberger
HEARTBREAK WILL MAKE ME STRONGER
Richmond teenager Jack Ross has vowed to emerge stronger from his Grand Final heartache as he wished first-gamer Marlion Pickett best wishes for Saturday’s clash with Greater Western Sydney.
Ross, 19, was rated a serious chance to play after Jack Graham was ruled out due to his dislocated shoulder.
But the Tigers opted to go with 27-year-old debutant Pickett instead.
“It’s obviously not the news that I wanted,” Ross said at the Grand Final parade.
“But Marlion is a great guy and he’s a great player. I can’t believe where he has come from, missing out on the drafts.
“It’s a special thing to watch him go about it.”
Ross played seven games for the Tigers this year, with his last one coming in Round 22.
He says the club had been extremely supportive across the past week - and throughout the season.
“I’ve got plenty of footy left in me,” he said. “Hopefully my career is going to go on for a long time.”
- Glenn McFarlane
THE CALL THAT SAVED LACHIE
Lachie Whitfield has revealed a phone call from Brisbane Lions premiership star Nigel Lappin has put him at ease before the Grand Final.
Lappin defied medical logic to play in the 2003 Grand Final only a week after breaking his ribs, while he punctured his lung in a matcheve fitness test.Whitfield today took contact at training and declared the “last box has been ticked” in his recovery from surgery to remove his appendix.
“I spoke to Nigel Lappin during the week, who gave me some advice about on how he went about it,” Whitfield said.
“He obviously had his ribs and a bit of a lung issue so it was a bit different to mine.
“But it was a similar process in terms of just getting yourself up fora grand final.“He was a very resilient bloke so it was good to talk to him.”
Former GWS welfare manager and Brisbane player Craig Lambert organised for Lappin to contact Whitfield.
- Sam Edmund
RECAP THE AFL GRAND FINAL PARADE
Originally published as AFL Grand Final parade: Richmond's Nathan Broad reveals memory loss