Ty Zantuck is The National Rising Star nominee for round 20 and according to Tiger coach Danny Frawley it’s not before time.

“I can’t believe he hasn’t got a Rising Star nomination this year,” Frawley said following the Tigers victory against Melbourne a few weeks back. In what has been a season to forget for the yellow and black it’s been the steady rise to prominence of the Tiger cubs like Zantuck, which have kept hope alive at Punt Road.

Zantuck picked up 16 possessions and took six marks last Friday night as Richmond gatecrashed Hawthorns’ finals party at the MCG.

“I had the job of taking on a decent forward and providing some run from half back.” He said. “I had time on Barlow, Campbell Brown and Chick throughout the match and I enjoyed the match ups.”

For the strongly built youngster the season is coming to an end just as he’s hitting top gear.

“The body is feeling real good right now. I can’t wait for the games to come. It’s not like the first few games this year when I was nervous and when I just wanted to get the games over and done – I’m really able to enjoy it now.”

Richmond fans entered season 2002 daring to dream that this was the year that the once feared Tiger army might have what it takes to storm into the one game that mattered – the Grand Final.

The team that finished third last year has hardly raised a gallop. A group of players who many thought were on the verge of returning The Tigers to what the their mad fans see as their right full place at the top are now under intense scrutiny with many of them playing for their careers.

For some it’s already to late with Frawley having made it clear that a spate of late season victories in dead rubbers will not alter the fate of those marked for delisting and trading.

“The coach has told the young guys he’s going to give them a chance to play in the team and get some decent game time. Guys like myself, Mark Coghlan and David Rodan can go out there with confidence and do what we do well without the fear that he’ll (Frawley) drag us.”

Ty Zantuck grew up around football. His father Shane had a VFL career with 3 clubs (North Melbourne, South Melbourne and Melbourne). As a youngster he spent a lot of time soaking up the sports bug in the Broadmeadows sports store his father set up with former North forward (and uncle) Arnold Briedis.

The three clubs his dad played with could have taken Ty Zantuck but somehow he landed at Punt road. With all the recent commotion over the changes to the Father-Son rule it seems to remarkable that none of the eligible clubs put in a bid for Zantuck. Or did they?

“I was just 17 when I trained with Melbourne and they said they weren’t that interested that they’d maybe draft me the next year. I didn’t think I was going to be drafted but the Tigers took a chance on me (Zantuck was taken at number 78 in the 1999 draft).”

In his short career the young Tiger has shown he has a taste for the tough stuff. He is quickly gaining a reputation as an “ impact” player capable of asserting himself on the field. Zantuck has already found himself in the hot spot in front of the tribunal and is still working out just how far is to far when it comes to getting physical.

“The main thing is I’ve got to learn to keep my feet on the ground when I bump. I’ve got off at the tribunal a couple of times but If I get it right I won’t have to go back.”

For Zantuck season 2003 starts now.

“I’ve had a pretty good year but the coach has made it clear that I need to keep my foot on the pedal and not back off. He wants me to become a really good player not just one that makes up the numbers. I’m hoping to be fitter next year and get a chance to play in the ball.”

A fitter, leaner and meaner Zantuck is sure to help put the menace back in the Tigers roar.