Broughton looks forward
Greg Broughton, who is part-Maori, speaks about his new role ahead of the AFL’s Multicultural Round.
Greg Broughton says he enjoyed his new role as a forward against Essendon last Saturday night and would be happy to continue playing there, should his coaches require him to.
The 25-year-old has played his entire AFL career as a defender and a midfielder, but he said the shift into attack had been in the works over the past month.
“I’d played there in spurts in the last couple of games against Adelaide and Richmond, and the coaches thought I could play a role up there against Essendon,” he said.
“I played all four quarters up there in a bit of a defensive role on Dustin Fletcher.”
Broughton, who played as a forward for Subiaco in the 2007 WAFL season, was pleased to register two goals against the Bombers in his new role.
“I’ve played a couple of quarters up there in the previous two games and hadn’t hit the scoreboard yet, so I was lucky enough to get on there with a couple on the weekend,” he said.
He said he enjoyed playing in attack, where his instructions from Ross Lyon were to do what every other forward in the side was tasked to execute.
“Ross said to apply as much pressure as you can and keep it in there,” Broughton said.
“It’s a new challenge for me.”
Broughton said where he lined up against Collingwood on Saturday was in the hands of the match committee, but that he’d be happy to play wherever he was needed.
“I enjoy wherever I play, as long as I’m playing my role for the team,” he said.
He added that the Magpies would be a tough challenge at the MCG on Saturday.
“The way they are travelling - I think they’ve won their last nine - we’re going to have to be at the top of our game,” he said.
“We’ll go across there and see what happens.”
Broughton left the field dazed last Saturday night against Essendon after a collision with teammate Chris Mayne late in the game.
He didn’t train with the main group on Tuesday, but said that was just precautionary and that he’d be fine for Saturday.
A proud part-New Zealander, Broughton said he was looking forward to the AFL’s Multicultural Round this weekend.
“My old man’s from New Zealand,” he said.
“He’s part-Maori and was brought up in a little country town called Patea on the North Island.
“A lot of Broughtons grew up in that area.
“He came over when he was 20, met my mum and stayed ever since.”
Broughton said the AFL’s Multicultural Round concept was a very good one.
“With Australia being so multicultural, there are so many different cultures and religions playing AFL football,” he said.
“It’s good to have that Round to see where everyone comes from.”