Strengths: Richard’s exceptional aerobic capacity and athleticism means he has the stamina to easily run out four quarters of football. He has worked on improving his upper body strength to help him with his contested marks and also has the ability to take a solid aerial mark. Richards needs to continue working on improving his skill level, an area that has let him down in the past.
Position: At 190cm, Richards has the height to hold down a key position and is versatile enough to play at both ends of the ground. With the number of tall options the Bombers have to play in defence, Richards could find himself in a forward role or even move into the mid-field. His fitness capacity and endurance means he is an option to play in the centre.
2003: The departure of a number of senior players at the end of 2002 presents Richards with opportunities to break into the senior side. He is heading into his third season at the club and it is time for him to put his hand up and take the next step. He will take confidence from the form he showed in the VFL and the experience of playing at both ends of the ground. 2003 is a crucial year for Richards to make the transition from VFL to AFL.
Kevin Sheedy says: Ted has gained some body strength and is developing a good frame however he still has a lot more work to do with the weights and he needs playing experience to gain footy nous and “smarts”. Travelling very well pre-season and could become a ruck rover or half forward. Players drafted from college football teams – in Ted’s instance Xavier College - don’t have the same experience as those from TAC teams. College teams only play 15 – 20 games per season compared with 25 – 30 in the TAC. The experience gained from the extra games is very important as player develop during their first couple of seasons in the AFL.
