Sydney Swans defender Ted Richards has announced he will retire at the end of the season, and Tim Watson has shared his thoughts on what he describes as a “great story” of a career.
The former Essendon captain reminisced to the 33-year-old’s time at the Bombers, having known Richards since he became friends with Jobe Watson at Xavier College as a child.
“I’ve known Teddy since he was a little boy and when he went to Essendon, he went there as a forward straight out of Xavier College,” he said.
“He wasn’t able to find a position there at Essendon. They tried him as a forward, they tried him down back and in the end they lost patience with him, they probably didn’t think he was going to make the grade.”
Watson then looked back on the 261-game veteran’s move to the Swans, which ultimately saved his career after struggling at his first club.
“Paul Roos and those in the Sydney Swans, they identified him specifically for a position they looked at Teddy and went okay, he is exactly what we believe we could develop as a key defender,” he said.
“They identified him as a defender, they said this is where you’re going to fit in, Roosy gave him the confidence to believe he was an AFL player and that has what he has become.”
“It is a great story and it goes to the heart of what Sydney have been about and what they have been really good at doing over the last 12 years.”
“Congratulations on what’s been a magnificent career. He’s done everything possible in his career which is brilliant.”
The Seven Network newsreader also shared a quirky story of Richards from his time at Essendon.
“I’m not sure whose advice he took or whether he decided to do this himself, and I’ve never known any player to do this, but he snuck into the boot room. I don’t know how he got past the property stewards at Essendon but he snuck into the boot room at Essendon after-hours,” said Watson.
“He grabbed hold of his footy boots… and he grabbed hold of James Hird’s boots. He rubbed his boots against James Hird’s boots to see if there might be a little bit of magic that might rub off.”