Patrick Naish has a positive outlook regarding his Richmond delisting.
The 22-year-old midfielder was not offered a new contract for 2022 after spending four years at Punt Road and playing nine senior games.
Naish found it difficult to crack into the Tigers side during their premiership-laden era under Damien Hardwick, but is confident he has a lot to offer any possible suitors.
“My time at Richmond was very enjoyable. I had a good experience and learnt a lot,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“Obviously it was frustrating watching the boys play every week and being a bit on the outer. As a whole the experience was one that I loved, but I’m pretty keen to get a crack somewhere else.
“I felt I was playing good enough footy at VFL. ‘Dimma’ (Hardwick) was pretty good with me all year in terms of why I wasn’t playing, what I needed to improve on. I felt I did that, but it wasn’t to be in the end.
“The club were great in talking to me and being pretty transparent in what they needed from me. I felt like I still fulfilled that, but I’m pretty keen to play good footy somewhere else now.”
Despite his time with the Tigers coming to an end, Naish is not dwelling on the past and only looking forward with the prospect of grasping another AFL opportunity high on the agenda.
He acknowledges that a club must show significant interest, but if that comes then he is determined to make it count.
“I still think you need a club to really buy into you, really say, ‘Hey, we’ve got a list spot for you’,” he added.
“Whether I get that, whether I don’t… I’m pretty hungry to get a spot.
“I don’t know whether it’s easier, but I guess I’m not seeing it as being delisted. I see it as the Richmond door is closed, (now) where can I go somewhere else to continue to fulfil my dream of playing consistent AFL footy.”
Naish has been linked with Collingwood due to the presence of his former Tigers VFL coach Craig McRae at the Holden Centre.
He admits he would be open to the move but would be happy to find a home anywhere at the elite level.
“Me and my manager (Nick Gieschen) have worked through it a bit,” Naish said.
“It’s helped that the Tiges delisted me a bit earlier so I’ve had more time to have those conversations with clubs and my manager.
“I’ve had a little bit (of interest), but still fingers crossed. ‘Giesch’ has been pretty good with every club I’ve spoken to.
“If it was the Pies I’d obviously love to play there, but at the same time I’d love to play anywhere that’s going to give me the opportunity.”
After joining Richmond as a father-son selection in 2017, Naish made his AFL debut in the yellow and black against Geelong in 2019.
He was a key figure in Richmond’s VFL premiership under McRae that season.