Ed Richards on the fast track to somewhere ‘special’ as Doggies cherish recruit’s quick progress
IN last year’s frantic countdown to the 2pm trade deadline, the Western Bulldogs were extra busy as nine draft picks flipped around, but with livewire Ed Richards now at the club those crazy few minutes seem well worth it.
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IF JAKE Stringer was still a Western Bulldog, Ed Richards would be dazzling as a star of the future elsewhere.
If Richards wasn’t 45 minutes late to a pre-draft interview at Carlton, he might’ve been a Blue.
In last year’s frantic countdown to the 2pm trade deadline, the Bulldogs struck three separate deals as nine draft picks flipped around.
The wash-up for the Dogs was this; in came pick 16 (Richards) and Josh Schache and out went Stringer and two second-round draft selections.
They appear win-win-wins.
The Blues ended up with a selection to satisfy GWS for Matthew Kennedy, Brisbane was well compensated for Schache and Essendon eventually got its man in Stringer.
But in Richards, the Bulldogs appear to have a beauty.
“There’s something special about him,” fellow Red Head Cameron Ling said on Friday night.
Wayne Carey said Richards was “100 per cent” in the conversation to win the Rising Star and teammate Jason Johannisen praised the speed and power he plays with.
On Friday night Richards was the No. 1 ranked player in the final quarter, kicking two clever goals against Geelong and applying a defensive spoil that led to the Dogs’ last major.
Each of Richards’ three goals put the Dogs in front.
“He’s made some big steps in a very short period of time,” coach Luke Beveridge said afterwards.
The Dogs ranked Aaron Naughton at No. 6 in last year’s draft and Richards at No. 7 and they got both — at picks nine and 16 respectively.
For any Bulldog supporter who felt heartache as premiership star Stringer was kicked out, Richards — who has re-signed until 2020 — eases the burn.
The Stringer trade was driven by coach Luke Beveridge and so much of it hinged on nailing pick 16.
Recruiter Simon Dalrymple, who has since joined Sydney, was “concerned” at who would be left.
“I was pessimistic (on Richards) because there were so many suitors between 10 and 15,” Dalrymple said on draft night.
“He was our next ranked player after Aaron.”
Driving from Glen Iris to the Blues to meet coach Brendon Bolton and list boss Stephen Silvagni, Richards was stuck in a traffic jam that helped them settle on Lochie O’Brien at pick 10.
If Richards was gone the Dogs would’ve tossed up Charlie Ballard (Gold Coast, pick 42) or Jack Higgins (Richmond, pick 17).
Right now, there aren’t many players from last year’s draft you would take ahead of Richards.
Similarly to Marcus Bontempelli, the Dogs loved Richards’ scope for improvement as a late developer.
The Carey Grammar boy was shorter than 160cm in under-15s, before growing 30cm in two years and shooting up draft boards.
He has balance, poise and pace and that’s a fair package to receive after losing Stringer.
THE DOGGIES’ TRADE CAROUSEL
The Western Bulldogs final two hours of trade period
IN
Ed Richards, Josh Schache
OUT
Jake Stringer, Pick 28* (2017), Pick 23** (2018)
* Used on Sam Taylor (GWS)
**Based on current ladder position
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