Oakleigh Chargers defender Ed Richards recruited to Western Bulldogs with pick No.16

ED RICHARDS has become the fourth generation from his family to reach the VFL/AFL ranks, but the next chapter will have a splash of red, white and blue.

Ed Richards (right) with fellow Western Bulldogs draftee Aaron Naughton. Picture: Justin Sanson

IT’S a famous football family with another chapter about to start.

Western Bulldogs recruit Ed Richards became the fourth generation from the Pannam/Richards bloodlines to reach the VFL/AFL ranks, capping a stunning 2017 for the late bloomer.

Impressed by his ability to break the lines and set up play from halfback, the Dogs selected the Hawthorn Citizens junior with pick No.16 in Friday night’s draft.

The 18-year-old is the grandson of Collingwood premiership player Ron Richards and grand-nephew of football icon Lou Richards.

Lou and Ron’s grandfather, Charlie Pannam Snr, played 229 VFA/VFL games for Collingwood and played in three Magpies premierships (1896, 1902 and 1903).

Ed Richards in his new colours after the draft. Picture: Justin Sanson

Two of Pannam Snr’s sons, Charlie Jnr and Alby, also combined for 178 appearances for Collingwood.

But the next chapter of the Pannam/Richards dynasty will have a splash of red, white and blue, adding some colour to the black and white tales from generations gone by.

It’s been a standout season from Richards — he only cracked his way onto a TAC Cup list for the first time at the end of 2016 after growing some 15cm in a year.

“A young fella that’s grown a hell of lot, he was a tiny little fella and he was just going along in his footy but the last 12 to 18 months has been great,” Oakleigh Chargers talent manager Craig Notman said.

“To go as a first-round pick, where, if you ask him, at the start of the year he wouldn’t have been contemplating playing AFL footy or being on an AFL list in 2018.

“It is a great story but he is a really likeable kid, there is no fuss, no nonsense, just gets stuck in and gets the job done.”

A knee injury ruled him out of Vic Metro consideration but his second half of the season was scintillating, roaring up the draft charts in the space of just a few months.

The Western Bulldogs predict Richards could replace fellow running defender Bob Murphy.

“The exciting part about it is I think he still has some real scope to continue to grow, too, so the Bulldogs have a very good pick from that point-of-view,” Notman said.

“He’ll do a very good job for them and just suits the modern game.”