Brandon Ellis flexes his muscle's after kicking a goal at training yesterday. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun
BRANDON Ellis started the season with a stinker.
Carlton's Chris Yarran burned him off for a goal of the year contender and Damien Hardwick subbed him out.
"He (Yarran) ran about 90 metres and had four bounces on the wing,'' Ellis said.
"I was chasing him and he just looked back at me and started smiling and kicked the goal from 50.
"It was a bit of a rough start to the year. I played sub for the next three games, which was a bit frustrating.
"I had one of those games and it was probably pretty smart of them to sub me out. I wasn't up to it.''
Fox Footy analyst David King had his own doubts.
"I'd seen him through the pre-season period. He's an elite runner, probably in the top two or three endurance athletes at Richmond, and a really hard worker and honest footballer - but I guess my opinion of him for the first 20-odd games was that he could play a number of roles, but without being able to seriously impact games,'' King said.
"But he's really blossomed over the last couple of weeks and turned that right around. He's been able to get himself onto the scoreboard, kick some goals and have an influence forward of centre."
The breakout game came with 39 possessions and a goal against Melbourne in Round 8.
"In the first quarter he had 16 possessions, more than the whole Melbourne midfield. It was fantastic,'' King said.
"I still think he's a work in progress and where he ranks among that Richmond midfield will be of interest going forward. Personally I still think he's going to be behind (Reece) Conca, (Dustin) Martin and (Trent) Cotchin in that role, but it's a lovely luxury to have.
Reece Conca (L) of the Tigers celebrates a goal with Brandon Ellis. Source: Getty Images
"He's still learning and only a young player but I'd love to see him have another asset, another trick or mode of getting more of the ball.
"The next season and a half will give us a bit more of an idea on his football DNA.''
Since Round 5, Ellis has averaged 26 disposals per game, the highest at the club, and polled votes from the coaches in four of five matches.
His season SuperCoach average of 78 is the second best of players drafted in 2011 behind Port Adelaide's Chad Wingard.
"Dimma (Hardwick) just asks me to keep improving, to keep being hard and tough in the contests. To stick to my structures and play my role,'' Ellis said.
"I can play back, I can play wing, which is outside, and mid which is inside _ and they've played me forward as well.
"I've been all over the shop this year and I'm enjoying it.''
He joined seven-gamer Nick Vlastuin, former skipper Chris Newman and cult figure Jake King in signing new deals this week.
A star-studded batch headed by Martin and Jack Riewoldt are yet to commit, but Ellis believes they will.
A win tonight against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium would see the Tigers move into sixth on the AFL ladder.
It would be awesome (to play finals) but it's not something we have spoken about at all,'' he says.
"It would be a dream come true but there are probably six or seven teams that are fighting for those spots (in the bottom half of the eight).''
Ellis was almost lost to football during his TAC Cup years.
His father, Dale, was diagnosed with throat cancer and Brandon pulled out of the Calder Cannons program.
Dale convinced him to return and Richmond swooped at pick 15 in the 2011 draft.
His dad beat the cancer.
"He's got all clear, so it means he doesn't have to go back for any more tests. It's a miracle what's happened and that he's still here today,'' Ellis said.
Then his dad got in on the substitution act.
"He was a mad Collingwood supporter for his whole life but he just turned - now he's a mad Richmond supporter. I thought it was impossible,'' Ellis quipped.
Ellis' best mates at the club include Stevie Morris, Cotchin and Bachar Houli. But he says the entire squad is tight.
"There's no rat pack. But we are all close and get along. There are little groups that go on but that happens everywhere.
"That's a massive reason why I signed because I fitted in down at Richmond straight away.''
On captain Cotchin he said: ``He was born to be a captain. Newy (Newman) still mentors him a bit and he gets a lot of help from Lids (Brett Deledio).''
Ellis said development coach Mark Williams, in the mix to fill the vacant Melbourne coaching job, had also impacted the emerging Tigers.
"He's a scary guy, Choco, but he's been awesome. It was such a great find by Richmond. He's real honest, tough and hard, but he'll give you a bit of love when it's needed and you deserve it.
"I'd love him to stay.''
BRANDON BY THE NUMBERS
SuperCoach price: $459,900
Game ave since R5 Richmond ranking
Disposals: 25.6 1st
Contested poss: 7.8 8th
Uncontested poss: 18.2 1st
Marks: 8.2 1st
Tackles: 3.8 7th
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