Matthew Richardson (footballer)

Last updated

Matthew Richardson
Matthew Richardson media.jpg
Richardson working with Seven Network in June 2017
Personal information
Full name Matthew Richardson
Nickname(s) Richo, Ricky [1]
Date of birth (1975-03-19) 19 March 1975 (age 49)
Place of birth Devonport, Tasmania
Original team(s) Devonport (TFL)
Draft Father–Son Selection, 1992
Richmond
Height 197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 103 kg (227 lb)
Position(s) Full-forward
Playing career
YearsClubGames (Goals)
19932009 Richmond 282 (800)
Representative team honours
YearsTeamGames (Goals)
1993 Tasmania 1 (1)
19961997 Allies 2 (5)
2008 Dream Team 1 (1)
International team honours
1999 Australia 2 (1)
Career highlights

AFL

Richmond

Representative

Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Matthew Richardson (born 19 March 1975) is a former professional Australian rules footballer and current media personality who represented Richmond in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Contents

On 4 March 2014, Richardson became a member of the AFL's All Australian selection committee. [2]

Background

Richardson is known for his marking prowess, speed and work rate. He was the club's key forward through the mid-1990s and the 2000s. He led the club's goalkicking for thirteen seasons, and was selected in the All-Australian Team three times – in 1996, 1999 and 2008.

Richardson's 800 career goals currently see him ranked second behind Jack Titus at Richmond, and twelfth [3] on the all-time list of AFL/VFL goalkickers. He also holds the record for most goals kicked without winning a Coleman Medal. He currently holds the record for the most goals kicked at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. [4] Richardson was one of the most popular players in the competition; this was shown when the crowd at the 2008 Brownlow Medal cheered every vote he got. Mark Robinson from the Herald Sun wrote "M. Richardson... I'm sure there wouldn't have been a more popular winner". [5]

AFL career

Educated at St. Brendan-Shaw and Don Colleges in Devonport, Tasmania, Richardson was the fourth pick (a father–son selection) in the 1992 AFL draft, and was recruited from Devonport, Tasmania. He is the son of former Richmond and South Melbourne player Alan "Bull" Richardson. [6]

Combining a 197 centimetre frame with speed and athletic capacity for a large man, on his day he has been a dominant presence for the Tigers. He suffered a torn left ACL in Round 9, 1995.,against Sydney at the SCG after he hyper-extended his left knee while landing as he was running out of bounds and crashed hard into the fence and missed the rest of the season after reconstructive surgery on his knee, including the Tigers' finals series – the Sydney Cricket Ground was forced to increase the distance between the boundary line and the fence (which at the time was as short as 2.5m in places) in response to the injury. [7] In 1996 he came back strongly, playing all 22 games and finished with 91 goals (49 behinds), earning All Australian selection for the first time. He sustained another knee injury in the pre-season of 2001, but recovered to play 22 games and kick 59 goals.

In 2004, a decision to step down from the Tigers' leadership group (the small group of senior players who help lead the club on and off-field) and focus on additional strength training paid off, with good goal-kicking form in the early part of the season including a career best 10 against the Western Bulldogs. Richardson finished with a tally of 65 goals for the season. In 2005 he kicked 65 goals again, this time with much more consistency throughout the season.

In 2007, in the Dreamtime at the 'G match against Essendon, Richardson played the game with a fractured eye socket and broken nose sustained only a week before. He still managed to kick four goals, and was denied a potentially match-winning fifth when he was penalised for a push-in-the-back against his opponent, Mal Michael. In the same year, he won his first ever club best-and-fairest, beating young teammate Nathan Foley by a single vote. He averaged 15.1 disposals & 9 marks per game, he also kicked 53 goals for the season.

Richardson representing the Dream Team in 2008 Matthew richardson.jpg
Richardson representing the Dream Team in 2008

Richardson spent a large part of the 2008 season playing on the wing, rather than in the forward line, which allowed him to have a much larger part in the play than previously. Although he did not win the club best-and-fairest, he was selected on the bench in the All-Australian team and finished third in the Brownlow Medal, polling 22 total votes. The 2008 season saw Richardson take 222 marks for the season, including 21 against Hawthorn in Round 20. He averaged 18.2 disposals per game, along with 11.1 marks per game, in which lead the entire AFL for the season and finals. Matthew also managed to kick 48 goals for the season.

In Round 6, 2009 against Sydney at the SCG, Richardson kicked his 800th and last career goal, becoming the eleventh player to reach the milestone in VFL/AFL history. Later in the same match, he partially tore his hamstring off the bone; he missed the remainder of the season with the injury, and announced his retirement after the season. [8] He received a rousing send-off in Round 1, 2010, appearing before the match in Richmond's season opener against Carlton.

Richardson retired in 2009 after 282 senior games for Richmond; he became a Richmond Football Club life member after playing more than 150 games for the club and an Australian Football League life member after playing more than 300 games, including representative and pre-season matches. His career tally of 800 goals was the eleventh-highest at the time of his retirement, and it remained so until Lance Franklin passed him in Round 6 of the 2017 season. [9] Richardson took a total of 2,270 marks during his AFL career, which was the second-highest of any player at the time of his retirement (since the statistic was recorded, starting in 1974).

Media career

It's over, Darce, and it is just an unbelievable feeling...75,000 members and 100,000 here today...(Siren sounds) The Tiges are in the Grand Final! Can you believe it? I can't! But they are!

Richardson commentating for Seven Network during the end of Richmond's 2017 preliminary final victory against GWS [10]

Following his retirement at the end of the 2009 AFL Season and during parts of the 2009 AFL Season when he was injured, Richardson was an AFL expert commentator for telecast matches and a panellist on the review show 'One Week at a Time', both Network Ten shows.

In 2010, Richardson became part of the Seven Network AFL telecast team, [11] initially as a boundary rider and then as a member of the Friday and Saturday night commentary teams, providing expert comments. He also appears on the Thursday night edition of Seven News Melbourne , to preview the weekend's AFL action, and as a panellist on Channel 7's AFL Game Day. He also is the colour commentator in AFL Evolution alongside Dennis Cometti.

Richardson also works for Richmond's media department, presenting their ‘Talking Tigers’ weekly podcast show and other videos on the club's website.

In September 2017, Richardson became a father for the first time when partner Genevieve Holliday gave birth to their daughter Zoey. [12] The same month, Richardson worked the 2017 Grand Final pitting Richmond against Adelaide as a boundary rider and presented the Premiership cup to Richmond captain Trent Cotchin and coach Damien Hardwick following the Tigers' victory. The following year, Richardson and fellow Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett featured on an official recording of We're From Tigerland. [13]

Statistics

[14]

Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals  
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds  
  H  
Handballs  
  M  
Marks
Led the league for the season only
Led the league after finals only
Led the league after season and finals
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game)
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
1993 Richmond 12143124112531659252.21.78.03.811.86.60.4
1994 Richmond 121956401533218510842.92.18.11.79.75.70.2
1995 Richmond 12927394211156063.00.310.42.312.86.70.7
1996 Richmond 122291492547733117764.12.211.53.515.08.00.3
1997 Richmond 121947351974924614882.51.810.42.612.97.80.4
1998 Richmond 121655411584119911393.42.69.92.612.47.10.6
1999 Richmond 122067412477532217253.42.112.43.816.18.60.3
2000 Richmond 123138419502904.32.713.73.016.79.70.0
2001 Richmond 122259362495430318292.71.611.32.513.88.30.4
2002 Richmond 12133621126261529172.81.69.72.011.77.00.5
2003 Richmond 1219333421577292173111.71.811.34.115.49.10.6
2004 Richmond 1218655018844232130103.62.810.42.412.97.20.6
2005 Richmond 1222654624749296166133.02.111.22.213.57.60.6
2006 Richmond 1218454020267269150132.52.211.23.714.98.30.7
2007 Richmond 1222534026172333197142.41.811.93.315.19.00.6
2008 Richmond 12204830262102364222112.41.513.15.118.211.10.6
2009 Richmond 12691376311076031.52.212.75.217.810.00.5
Career2828005513082879396122701342.82.010.93.114.08.00.5

Achievements & Honours

AFL

Richmond

Other

Personal life

His sister, Samantha, was married to retired Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne footballer Jade Rawlings.

Matthew also has an older sister, Tracey, and a younger brother, Andrew.

In April 2017, Matthew Richardson and fiancée of eight years, Genevieve Holliday, announced they were expecting their first child a daughter. [15] Their daughter, Zoey Isabella Richardson was born on Sunday 3 September 2017. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Football Club</span> Australian rules football club

The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers or colloquially the Tig(e)s, is a professional Australian rules football team competing in the Australian Football League (AFL). Founded in 1885 in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond, the club competed in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1885 to 1907, winning two premierships. Richmond then joined the Victorian Football League from the 1908 season and has since won 13 premierships, most recently in 2020.

Dale Weightman is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Tredrea</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1978

Warren Gary Tredrea is a former Australian Rules Footballer with the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) and former Weekday Sports Presenter on Nine News Adelaide. Since his retirement from football, he has become a sports media personality featuring on Nine News Adelaide, 3AW, FiveAA and in The Advertiser newspaper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Deledio</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1987

Brett Edward Deledio is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played 243 games over 12 seasons with the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), and a further 32 matches over three seasons with the Greater Western Sydney Giants. He was a two-time All-Australian, two-time Richmond best and fairest winner and recipient of the league's Rising Star award in his debut year in 2005. Between 2013 and 2016, he served as Richmond's vice-captain. Deledio was drafted to Richmond with the number one overall pick in the 2004 AFL draft and made his debut in round 1 of the 2005 season.

Francis William Bourke is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who represented Richmond in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1967 and 1981, and coached the club in 1982 and 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Franklin</span> Australian rules footballer (born 1987)

Lance Franklin, also known as Buddy Franklin, is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for the Hawthorn Football Club from 2005 to 2013 and the Sydney Swans from 2014 to 2023. Regarded as the greatest forward of his generation and among the greatest players of all time, Franklin kicked 1,066 goals, the fourth-most in VFL/AFL history; he was his club's leading goalkicker on 13 occasions and kicked at least 50 goals in a season 13 times. Franklin was selected in the All-Australian team on eight occasions, including as captain in the 2018 team, and won four Coleman Medals throughout his career, with his biggest haul coming in 2008 with Hawthorn, when he kicked 113 goals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaun Grigg</span> Australian rules footballer

Shaun Grigg is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played 171 games for Richmond and 43 games for Carlton over a 13-year AFL career. He was a premiership player with Richmond in 2017, an Under 18 All Australian and twice placed in the top five in Richmond club best and fairests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bachar Houli</span> Australian rules footballer

Bachar Houli OAM is a former Australian rules footballer who played 232 games over a 15-year career with Richmond and Essendon in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a three-time premiership player with Richmond and was named an All-Australian half-back during his 2019 premiership winning season. Houli is the first devout Muslim and third Muslim overall to play in the AFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Riewoldt</span> Australian rules footballer (born 1988)

Jack Riewoldt is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a three-time premiership player, a three-time Coleman Medallist, a three-time All-Australian, an 12-time Richmond club leading goalkicker, a two-time Jack Dyer Medallist and a Tasmanian Football Hall of Famer. He served as Richmond's vice captain during all three premiership seasons.

Nick Daffy is a former Australian rules football player who played in the AFL between 1992 and 2001 for the Richmond Football Club and then played one game in 2002 for the Sydney Swans Football Club.

The 1974 VFL season was the 78th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 6 April until 28 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Cotchin</span> Australian rules footballer

Trent William Cotchin is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is an All-Australian, a three-time Richmond best and fairest winner, a Brownlow medallist, and a three-time premiership winning captain. Cotchin represented the Victorian Metro side at the 2007 AFL Under 18 Championships and captained the Vic Metro side at 2006 Under 16 Championships. He played for the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup as a junior, before being drafted to Richmond with the second overall pick in the 2007 national draft. He led the club to a 37-year drought-breaking premiership in 2017 before taking them again to a premiership in 2019 and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Dangerfield</span> Australian rules footballer

Patrick Dangerfield is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Adelaide Football Club from 2008 to 2015. He has served as Geelong captain since the 2023 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin Nahas</span> Australian rules footballer

Robin Nahas is a professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dustin Martin</span> Australian rules footballer

Dustin Martin is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Martin was drafted by Richmond with the third pick in the 2009 national draft, and made his AFL debut in the opening round of the 2010 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Lynch (Australian footballer, born 1992)</span> Australian rules footballer

Thomas J. Lynch is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played 131 games and kicked a then club-record 254 goals at the Gold Coast Suns after being drafted by the club with the 11th overall pick in the 2010 national draft. He served as Gold Coast's co-captain in 2017 and 2018. Lynch is a two time premiership player with Richmond, two time All-Australian - Once in the team and the other in the extended squad, a two-time Gold Coast club champion, four-time Gold Coast leading goalkicker, two-time Richmond leading goalkicker and one-time Richmond best and fairest. Also known for his large appendage that is around the 12-inch mark to which people ask, "how did you get it to that length Tom ??" and he simply says "I cut it in half"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Miles (Australian footballer)</span> Australian rules footballer

Anthony Miles is a former Australian rules footballer who played 88 matches over nine seasons at the Greater Western Sydney Giants, the Richmond Football Club and the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). While playing with Richmond's reserves side in 2018 he won the J.J. Liston Trophy as the Victorian Football League's best and fairest player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kane Lambert</span> Australian rules footballer

Kane Lambert is a former professional Australian rules football player who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He went undrafted after a junior career with the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup, before a four-year stint at state-league level that included being named in the VFL's team of the year and receiving the league's most improved player award in 2013. Lambert was drafted to Richmond in the 2015 rookie draft and made his debut for the club in round 1 of the 2015 season. He is a triple-premiership player with the club, having played in grand final wins in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shai Bolton</span> Australian rules footballer (born 1998)

Shai Bolton is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by Richmond in the second round of the 2016 draft and made his debut in round 9 of the 2017 season, as the club's youngest debutant in nine years. In 2018, he won the VFL's Mark and Goal of the Year awards while playing reserves grade football. Bolton was a premiership player with Richmond in each of the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the first of which he also received a Rising Star nomination in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Higgins (Australian footballer)</span> Australian rules footballer

Jack Higgins is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played 43 games over three seasons at Richmond. As a junior, Higgins was named All-Australian at the 2017 AFL Under-18 Championships and won the Morrish Medal as the best player in the Victorian junior state league, the TAC Cup. He was drafted by Richmond with the last pick of the first round in the 2017 AFL national draft and made his debut for the club in Round 3 of the 2018 season. In his debut season, he earned the AFL Goal of the Year award and placed fourth in the league Rising Star award. Higgins missed a significant part of the 2019 season after undergoing surgery for a brain condition. In the 2020/21 off-season, he was traded to St Kilda in a multipiece deal that principally involved a second-round draft pick.

References

  1. Gleeson, Michael (13 November 2009). "Richo decides to hang up boots".
  2. Guthrie, Ben (4 March 2014). "Worsfold joins Laws of the Game committee". AFL. AFL. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  3. "AFL Tables - Matthew Richardson - Stats - Statistics".
  4. AFL Tables – M.C.G
  5. Robertson, Mark; Anderson, Jon (24 September 2008). "Boss and Matthew Richardson steal Brownlow Medal show".
  6. Wilson, Caroline (1 May 2005). "Tiger of gold".
  7. Anthony Mithen; Greg Denham (30 May 1995). "SCG acts on Tiger injury". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 48.
  8. Gleeson, Michael (13 November 2009). "Richo decides to hang up boots".
  9. "AFL Tables - Lance Franklin - Stats - Statistics".
  10. The Front Bar – 2017 Grand Final Edition YouTube (originally broadcast by Seven Network)
  11. Matthew Richardson joins Seven. TV Tonight | Retrieved 26 March 2013
  12. Matthew Richardson baby: Richmond champ and partner welcome daughter by Sophie Smith The Herald Sun
  13. Tigers tune-up for Club song Richmond Football Club
  14. "AFL Tables - Matthew Richardson - Stats - Statistics".
  15. "AFL Tiger great's baby news: Matthew Richardson and partner announce expected September arrival". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  16. Smith, Sophie (3 September 2017). "Matthew Richardson and Genevieve Holliday announce arrival of baby daughter". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 4 September 2017.

Further reading

Richardson, Matthew; Flanagan, Martin (2010). Richo. Random House Australia. ISBN   978-1-74166-972-5