A slimmed-down Quinton Narkle is said to have lost nearly eight kilograms over the AFL players’ break as he attempts to reignite his career at the top level.
After six seasons at Geelong filled with promise and potential, Narkle largely fell out of favour in 2022 to manage just eight senior games.
But the 25-year-old continued to be on the edge of selection for the eventual premiers and consistently put up strong numbers as a goalkicking midfielder in the VFL.
Narkle has been training at Richmond since mid-December in the hopes of continuing his 41-game AFL career. His career-best performance came in 2021 when recording 34 disposals in a 34-point win over Gold Coast, including eight marks and six inside 50s.
On Thursday, cameras captured Narkle at Punt Road, with AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich noting the former Cat’s improved physique.
A key Pie is back on the track, whilst an ex-Cat could be set for a big change.@JoshGabelich and @Nat_Edwards bring you the Thursday Footy Feed.https://t.co/Tw3r26KhPt
— AFL (@AFL) January 12, 2023
“He started in December, he’s auditioning for that rookie spot at Richmond right now and the difference in his body shape between December and January is quite stark,” Gabelich told AFL Media’s Footy Feed.
“He’s stripped off eight kilos during the break, he had a really strong block. He knows that he’s got one more chance left at AFL level and this could be it.”
Narkle has until February 15 to prove his worth to the Tigers, when the pre-season supplemental selection period ends.
He’s up against country footballer Kaelan Bradtke, who starred at Corowa in 2022, and overlooked draft prospect Luke Teal for the spot at Richmond.
But as SEN’s Sam Edmund noted, Narkle’s intent is a good sign for his prospects at Tigerland.
“The knock or query on him historically has been endurance, run and spread and the like,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“He was unrecognisable in the vision I saw… he’s one to watch because I think he can play the game.”
Narkle stands at 182 centimetres an his final playing weight was listed as 83 kilograms.
Narkle finished third in his two-kilometre time-time trial heat which featured Richmond’s younger players, according to Gabelich. That was taken out by Josh Gibcus in the fifth-fastest time of the day, while Tim Taranto claimed back-to-back time trials in a strong start to his career at Punt Road.