Former Richmond forward Ben Lennon training to pursue NFL punting career

FORMER Richmond forward Ben Lennon is leaving the AFL behind to pursue a career as a punter in the NFL and has been hard at work training to perfect his technique.

Ex-Tiger Ben Lennon wants to pursue an NFL career. Picture: Andy Brownbill

AXED Richmond forward Ben Lennon will leave the AFL behind and pursue a career in the NFL.

Delisted at the end of the season, Lennon has turned his attention to becoming a punter in America’s top football league and is hard at work training to improve his technique.

The 22-year-old joins former Saint Arryn Siposs in setting his sights on the NFL.

Lennon did not nominate for the drafts despite speculation he could be thrown an AFL lifeline and is instead committed to making it in the US.

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He has been training with Prokick Australia in a bid to transition his AFL skills to the NFL.

“There’s three training sessions on a Wednesday, a Friday and Sunday and then there’s six gym sessions — a lot of leg strength ... but my main focus at the moment is to get my technique right,” Lennon said.

“It’s a bit different to Aussie rules — you kick a barrel and it’s awesome and you think it’s going to translate to NFL with the pointier ball but it just doesn’t work like you want it to all the time.

Ex-Tiger Ben Lennon wants to pursue an NFL career. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“I’m just trying to get more consistent and trying to learn as much as I can.”

A prodigious kick, Lennon fell out of favour at the Tigers this year and played just two matches at senior level despite consistent performances in the VFL.

He realised early in the year he may need to look elsewhere or go down a new path and that’s when American football became an option.

“It was probably the first quarter of the year when I was in and out of the team, I found myself playing VFL and had two mates who are over in the States at the moment ... I spoke to them and thought I might give this a crack,” Lennon told SEN.

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“It wasn’t until later this year when I got delisted and I thought I’m still pretty keen to play at a high level with a sport but I didn’t know if it was with footy.

“I had a few meetings and came to the decision that this is a really good journey for me and I’m going to give it a crack.”

A former No.12 draft pick, Lennon has not yet shut the door completely on reviving his AFL career but it is no longer his top priority.

Ben Lennon played just 21 AFL games in four years. Picture: Michael Klein

“At this point in time my eggs are more in the NFL basket, so that’s my main goal at the moment, that’s my main priority,” he said.

“But obviously if things don’t work out and I don’t make the NFL, well then I’ll still only be 26-27 and I’m not really sure, I can’t talk for 3-4 years down the track but it’s something I’ll definitely have to sit down and weigh up at the time.”

Lennon played just 21 career games in four years at Richmond after being selected with pick No.12 in the 2013 national draft.

He endured his fair share of injuries and was struck down by glandular fever ahead of the 2016 season but in the end his playing style — as more a marking forward than a pressure crumber at 188cm — there wasn’t a role for him at Richmond.

There is a “sour taste” after playing mostly VFL throughout his short AFL career but no hard feelings.

Former Saint Arryn Siposs has been given a three-year scholarship with Auburn University.

“I tried to get out of the club back in 2016 and that didn’t work and I obviously fell out of favour this year,” he said.

“The way the game is going now you need small, quick players to put pressure on and that’s something that probably wasn’t my main strength.

“I had to play a lot of VFL footy and at the end of the day that was pretty frustrating, you’re not there to play VFL

“I guess there is a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth but that’s nothing against Damien (coach Damien Hardwick), he’s obviously done a good job and we won the premiership.

“It doesn’t always work out the way you want it to but I’m just hoping to have another crack at a different sport and make the best out of it.”