“I’m very excited, obviously it has been a very tough couple of months for me with the whole Richmond thing but I’m looking forward to a new phase in my life. I can’t wait,” Zantuck said.
“I was pretty confident through talking to some of the boys that I would get down here so it’s worked out well in the end.”
Zantuck’s departure from Richmond wasn’t ideal but that is all in the past now as far as he is concerned.
“I sort of knew (in my mind) after the last game that I wanted a change. It was nothing against Terry (new Richmond coach Terry Wallace) but I told him I just thought I needed a change. From that day I knew I wanted to go.”
Zantuck admitted that his first preference was the Bombers. Although he may have missed being a Bomber by a matter of minutes during the mad scramble on the final day of the trade period, fate prevailed and he got his wish.
“Usually when people get traded they don’t get to pick (where they go), but the way it’s turned out I have ended up here with such a great club, a good history and great leaders here, so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
During that time of unknown, between the trade period and today’s pre-season draft, Zantuck has worked hard on his fitness.
Training on his own, the 22-year old kept in touch with Essendon recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro, who he today credited with keeping him focussed while events unfolded.
Zantuck also met Kevin Sheedy for the first time two weeks ago and when selected this morning said he had spoken to the Bomber coach about his future at the club.
“He (Sheedy) congratulated me and said if I train hard, play good football and get the respect from the senior players then I’ll be here for a long time,” Zantuck said.
“I’m just looking forward to playing in a successful team and with some great leaders in Lloyd and Hird, who I have played against a lot of times and just admired the way they go about their football.”
Many football pundits had tipped the club would re-ignite the career of former premiership player Justin Blumfield, a teammate of Zantuck’s at Richmond. The Bombers surprised many by selecting the latter.
“I’ll have to catch up with him (Justin Blumfield) and have a coffee and say sorry, but I guess that’s the way it goes,” a philosophical Zantuck said.
Today is a significant day in the career of Ty Zantuck. He has be given a second chance by Sheedy and his men, one the young man is determined not to let slip through his fingers.
For now though there is only one problem. Zantuck must get used to wearing the red sash across the chest instead of the yellow.
“It looks a little bit funny but I reckon I’ll get used to it.”
