2003
2003 was Richard's third season at the club and no one knew better than him that he needed to take the next step this year. With two senior games experience prior to the commencement of the season, Richards made serious in roads into the senior line-up in 2003. He finished the season having played 10 games and also earned himself a National Rising Star nomination after an impressive performance in the Round 15 clash against Adelaide. With each senior appearance Richards grew in confidence and instead of being a link player, he began creating play and provided another goal scoring option. The 20-year-old finished with nine majors for the season.
STRENGTHS
Richard’s is capable of taking a strong grab and has worked on his upper body strength in recent seasons. His excellent aerobic capacity and athleticism ensures he has the stamina to easily run out four quarters of football. Richards has a great leap and is not afraid to fly through the air to take a grab.
POSITION
In the 10 senior games he played in 2003, Richards was used in the forwardline. He came off the bench in bursts to give the side extra forward fire power. The 21-year-old finished with nine majors for the season and proved that is a solid marking target. With Paul Barnard retiring, Richards could find himself as a permanent fixture in the Bombers’ forwardline.
2004
2004 is a fantastic opportunity for Richards to cement a spot in the senior team. He can take confidence and form from the 10 matches he played last season and now knows he is has the ability to make it at the top level. Richards plays an exciting brand of football and his second efforts and work rate are unquestioned. 2004 is set to be an exciting year for Richards.
WHAT SHEEDY SAYS
Ted has been playing mostly in the forward line. I would like to have a look at him this season in the back line and with the injuries to Dean Solomon and Sean Wellman, we might get the opportunity to play him there early in the season. We want to build into his game being able to play at both ends of the ground and have a flexible career where he can play wing, centre half-back or centre half-forward.
Ted just needs matches and I think a lot of the guys that come out of the college system don’t play a lot of games at school. Sometimes they play only 12 games a year. We want to see a marginal improvement in him because he has been here a few years. I think it takes five years to make a league footballer to play well and consistently.
