Joe Richards on his rapid rise from country footy to Collingwood and then Port Adelaide

Just three years ago, Joe Richards was playing country footy in Wangaratta, working as teacher’s aide. On Sunday, he plays game 21 at his second AFL club. The 25-year-old opens up on the ride.

He is the under-the-radar Port Adelaide recruit who forged an uncommon path to the AFL.

In three years, Joe Richards has gone from playing country footy in his hometown of Wangaratta and working with schoolchildren with special needs to kicking goals for Collingwood and now he is starting to establish himself at the Power.

Part of the polarising trade that sent Dan Houston to the Magpies, Richards, 25, is quietly becoming a nice find for his new club as a hardworking, smart half-forward.

The Power placed plenty of faith in the 177cm Victorian, handing him a three-year deal after six goals from nine games over two seasons for Collingwood.

Richards’ life experience as a mature-age recruit and full-time teacher’s aide has given him plenty of perspective in his new chapter as a first-choice Port Adelaide player.

“I went back home recently and it didn’t feel like long ago that I was playing at Wang,” says Richards, who is averaging 15 disposals and has booted eight goals from 11 games this year.

“It’s happened pretty quick.

“I’ve done a fair bit in three years.

“The previous two years flew by and this year’s going quick, but I’ve loved every second.

“When you’ve worked jobs in the real world, it makes you appreciate how good this job is.

“I think it definitely makes you work a little bit harder so that you can hang on to the opportunity for longer.”

Joe Richards is starting to establish himself at the Power. Picture: PAFC/Matt Sampson

Richards hardly envisaged himself as an AFL player until his last year for Wangaratta Magpies, aged 22.

Injuries spoiled his first draft-eligible campaign with Murray Bushrangers.

He returned to Wangaratta for the next two seasons, then again once Covid struck, cutting short a move to Melbourne to play VFL for Carlton.

Richards drew recruiters’ attention to his hometown during a 2022 campaign during which he kicked 29 goals from 19 matches in the Ovens and Murray league.

A five-minute YouTube video of his highlights – that was his idea to upload – had AFL clubs driving to Wangaratta to watch him.

Richards had done enough to impress by the time he helped his local side win a flag that September.

Collingwood premiership defender Ben Reid coached Wangaratta’s win and was on the phone to his former club’s recruiting boss Derek Hine the day after the celebrations to reiterate Richards had AFL potential.

Two months later, the Magpies selected him at pick 48 of the national draft.

“I was just happy playing footy with my friends back home, but it was good that it eventually worked out,” Richards says.

“It was only probably in the second half of the year where I thought, ‘yeah, it might happen’.

“Reidy was good at not saying too much … and just letting me play footy, so that relieved a little bit of pressure.”

Off the field, Richards was working at Wangaratta District Specialist School helping children with learning difficulties.

He was completing a Bachelor of Business at university and got the role through friends there.

“It has a lot of kids who like football and like sport, and it was a job I really liked,” he says.

“The first time I went back, I hadn’t even played a game for Collingwood and the kids thought me visiting was the greatest thing ever, which was nice.”

Going from a small country town with a population of about 30,000 to games in front of double that at the MCG and living in the big smoke of Melbourne with Magpies premiership forward Brody Mihocek took some adjusting.

But he loved his two years at Collingwood and was grateful for the chance it gave him, making the decision to leave last October more difficult.

The Magpies were disappointed to lose him.

Richards in action last week against the Giants. Picture: Phil Hillyard

And celebrating a goal for Collingwood in 2024. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Last year, he won the Harry Collier Trophy as the club’s best young player on a night when coach Craig McRae told the crowd: “We’re really excited for what Joe can be in a Collingwood jumper for years to come.”

“I think there probably comes a stage where you have to do what’s best for yourself and for your own career,” Richards says.

“It definitely did feel a little bit bad leaving, but I think it’s worked out for the best for me and my football.”

Richards and his fiancee, Maddi, were in Bali on holiday when the trade finally went through.

The three-club deal had Port giving up Houston, two later picks and its 2025 first-round selection while receiving Jack Lukosius and Rory Atkins from Gold Coast, Richards, as well as picks 13, 29, 36, 50.

While South Australian Lukosius and ex-Crow Atkins were well known to Power supporters, Richards had flown under the radar, judging by some social media responses to their signings.

“One of the bigger deciding factors in coming here was opportunity,” Richards says.

“They’ve obviously lived up to their word and I’ve played some more footy so far.

“We haven’t had as many wins as what we would like in the first half of the year (Port has a 5-7 record), but I still think the move’s been great for me and great for my partner as well.”

Richards and Maddi are living with another small forward from Wangaratta Magpies, the Power’s top draftee from last November, Joe Berry.

They knew each other from Richards training at their junior club during the 2023/24 off-season.

The housemates enjoy playing darts in their garage and hardly talk footy at home.

Waiting four years to reach the elite level has Richards urging patience to seven-gamer Berry.

“I’ve just said that this year will probably be the toughest year he’ll have in the AFL and to just persist with what he’s doing at the moment because he’s playing some really good SANFL footy,” Richards says.

“In your first year, you’re trying to you’re trying to learn different roles and the game plan, and you’re trying to get a touch as well.

“Especially in our role, a lot of the times you don’t get many touches – it’s unrewarded running.

“A lot of the guys think that it’ll go perfectly and they’ll do a Nick Daicos or Harry Sheezel and play every game, but it won’t be a smooth ride.”

Richards and partner Maddi Clark announcing their engagement. Picture: Instagram

The former Pie was handed John McCarthy’s No. 35 when he arrived at the club. Picture: Matt Sampson/PAFC

The Power’s season has been bumpy in itself, sitting 15th ahead of its home game against Melbourne on Sunday.

Richards’ form has been one of the team’s bright spots.

He is forging his way wearing a guernsey with an important history at the club.

The No. 35 jumper was donned by another ex-Collingwood player, John McCarthy, during his sole season at the Power before being retired after he died on an end-of-season trip in 2012.

McCarthy’s family gave their blessing for Port to pass the guernsey on to Richards.

Power great turned forwards coach Chad Cornes, who played 235 games and won a flag in No. 35, handed it to him at the club’s season launch.

“Port was really good at explaining what John stood for and what he brought to the club,” Richards says.

“The club not only put their faith in me by trading me here, but gave me that jumper as well, so it definitely means a lot.”

Senior coach-in-waiting Josh Carr says Richards is bringing a lot to the team.

“His performance on field, his attitude to his training, his attitude towards the club and his teammates, his enthusiasm to everything that he does ...,” Carr says.

“We feel really lucky to have him as part of our group and he’ll only get better.”

Originally published as Joe Richards on his rapid rise from country footy to Collingwood and then Port Adelaide