At 24 and with just 55 AFL games under his belt, Rhyan Mansell can’t believe he’s now considered a mature head at Richmond.
The tenacious small forward, in just his fifth year in the system, has suddenly found himself surrounded by a gaggle of baby-faced teen sensations.
Almost to his surprise, he’s loving it.
“I’m only 24, but I do feel old in that group,” Mansell told AAP.
“It’s been good for me personally. It’s helped me mature my game up and try to help those boys learn the system and everything as quick as they can.
“By doing that, it helps me as well. So I’m really enjoying it, and they bring lots of energy to the group, that’s for sure.
“I love the way Harry Armstrong goes about it, just the way he competes and crashes packs, bringing the ball to ground.
“Sammy Lalor as well, he’s been fantastic since he’s come in, and obviously we see he can already impact at AFL level.”
Mansell’s story is very different to the high draft picks he’s now surrounded by.
The Tasmanian was a pre-season supplemental selection ahead of the 2021 season, walking into a club that had just won the third premiership of a golden era.
Loving life under Adem Yze, who has given him renewed confidence, defender-turned-pressure forward Mansell wants to make his own mark on Richmond’s future.
“That’s something that I’m striving for,” he said.
“It’s good that now I’ll get the chance to use what I learned off the blokes who’ve retired to give to these younger boys, and help them develop as quick as I can.”
Richmond will welcome back spearhead Tom Lynch from suspension when they face St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
“You can’t even explain how important he is to us,” Mansell said.
“He’s just a great presence up forward, and we love playing with Lynchy.”
The Tigers are keen to bounce back from a poor showing against Port Adelaide against the Saints, who are coming off an upset win over Geelong.
“Obviously St Kilda play Marvel (Stadium) pretty well. Look at the result they had last week,” Mansell said.
“They’re playing good footy, so it’s going to be a good challenge for us, but we’re definitely excited for it.”
The game will also mark the 10th and final Maddie’s Match, which raises money to support the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of bone marrow failure syndromes.
Maddie Riewoldt, sister of Saints great Nick and cousin of triple-premiership Tiger Jack, lost her five-year battle with aplastic anaemia in 2015.
“Obviously it is a important occasion for both sides and the Riewoldt family,” Mansell said.
“So we’re keen to put out a good performance for them.”