Rawlings suggested Nicholson watch the way St Kilda's James Gwilt (at 18cm, five centimetres taller than Nicholson but also a left-footer) and Richmond's Steve Morris went about playing their roles.
"We have got a huge emphasis on going to watch football live now," Nicholson said. "You learn a lot sitting in the grandstand watching other players."
On Saturday night, Nicholson put some of those lessons into practice in just his second game for the season.
He played the small defender role, winning 22 disposals, with 13 of them contested and laid three tackles. He also pressed up to put the ball inside 50 three times and have a shot for goal in the last quarter that was, according to the umpire, touched on the line.
Nicholson said the Demons' defence was determined to concede as few goals as possible. He felt the back line worked really hard to restrict the Bombers to six goals.
"We call it the 'fortress' down back, just never giving up on those goals. You would have seen in the game [that] there were a couple of times where it looked like they should have scored but just through not giving up we were able to stop them scoring," Nicholson said.
Nicholson, 21, missed the first eight losses this year, his season interrupted when a hot spot appeared in his foot. He was forced off his feet for three or four weeks to ensure it did not become a stress fracture.
His run and pace was missed and his ability to get to contest after contest a real bonus when he returned against Carlton in round nine.
Nicholson, a noted track worker who grew up on a sheep and grain farm in Derrinallum in south west Victoria, laughed when asked about how he built his fitness base during the pre-season.
"Aaaah, Dave Misson, he's got a big trick bag that's for sure," Nicholson said.
"It was definitely a step up from the year before. The year before they were a bit worried about us first year players. We would get pulled out of a lot of pre-season drills last year but this year was all about building that base and getting us ready and getting us up to that AFL standard."
During that period Nicholson, a rookie, would often wager a cup of coffee on the outcome of his running battles with McDonald, the former St Pat's Ballarat students pushing each other to greater heights.
One particular session sticks in his mind.
"The old six one ks (six 1km runs). I'll probably never forget them," Nicholson said.
"We did them on Gosch's paddock, two and a half laps and it is pretty much gut run, that is all it is. There is no holding back, no set times for your first and second and third ones. It is just as hard as you can go for six one ks."
The words are indicative of his willingness to get better rather than any joy in hard work.
"[It's] got to be done if we want to have success," Nicholson said.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
