DELISTED Richmond half-forward Ben Lennon is embarking on a new challenge to become an NFL punter, but has "a little bit of a sour taste" in his mouth after his AFL dream failed to take flight.
Lennon, who was a gun junior prospect when the Tigers used pick No.12 to recruit him at the end of 2013, managed just 21 games in four seasons because of a mix of injury and form struggles.
The 22-year-old didn't nominate for last month's NAB AFL Draft or Rookie Draft and is now seeking to earn a scholarship with a US college as a punter and eventually an NFL contract.
After five games in the past two seasons, Lennon said he had no issue with coach Damien Hardwick and understood some of the structural reasons he struggled at selection.
"The way the game is going now, you need small, quick players to put pressure on and that wasn't my main strength," he told SEN.
"I had to play a lot of VFL footy and at the end of the day it's pretty frustrating. You're not there to play VFL.
"There is a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth, but that's nothing against Damien.
"It doesn't always work out the way you want it to, but I'm just hoping to have another crack at a different sport and make a success out of it."
Lennon is training with Prokick Australia, who help players build the necessary skills to transition to American football.
He said he spoke with two friends at US colleges earlier in the year and decided it could be a path worth pursuing.
"It was probably the first quarter of the year when I was in and out of the team and I sort of found myself playing VFL," he said.
"I spoke to them and I thought, geez I might give this a crack here.
"Then it wasn't until later this year when I got delisted and I thought I'm still pretty keen to play sport at a high level and I didn't know if it was with footy.
"I had a few meetings and we just came to the decision that this is a really good journey for me. I'm going to give it a crack."
Lennon is training three times a week and completing six gym sessions, putting in significant time to get the technique right with the pointy American football.
He is still receiving physio work from Richmond and has recovered from post-season shoulder and groin surgery.
Part of the appeal of joining a US college, he said, was completing a degree to set his life up, but also playing in front of the massive crowds they attract.
Lennon will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Saint Arryn Siposs, who has just been offered a punting scholarship by division one US college Auburn University.
