Alan Richardson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Alan 'Bull' Richardson is a former Australian rules football
player who played in the VFL between 1959 and 1969 for the Richmond Football Club
and then from mid-1969 until 1970 for the South Melbourne Football Club
.
For some time he only played intermittently with the seniors — playing (at centre-half-back) in Richmond's 1962 Night Football premiership team (Richmond 8.16 (64) d. Hawthorn 9.6 (60)) — and, in 1963 and 1964, he was the captain of the Reserves side, winning the Reserves' best and fairest in both years.
He did not become a permanent senior player until 1965, when he was 25, and did not play in the Reserves' until 1967, when he played a couple of matches before returning to the seniors. He played in the 1967 premiership team.
, who had replaced Jack Titus
at Richmond in 1966.
Although strong, tenacious and persistent, "Bull" was, to say the least, an inconsistent and unreliable kick, and was far from speedy.
It seemed a strategic masterstroke when Hafey encouraged "Bull" to play ruck-rover, and to rove to the rucks' hitouts (more often than not behind the ruck duel, rather than in front of it), rather than contesting the ball-ups and throw-ins with them, and to hand-pass the ball, rather than kick it, immediately he had it.
Anyone who saw "Bull" develop over 1966, and saw him flourish in 1967 — being Richmond's unchallenged best on the ground in the Grand Final, when he played his heart out with a superb display of ruck-roving and handball, until he was replaced early in the last quarter due to severe cramps after having more than 20 "possessions" — and seeing him lurking behind the pack, collecting the hitout, and then making one of his unique looping hand-passes could not fail to identify "Bull" as the glue that held the whole of Hafey's team together. In 1967 he played in Richmond's first premiership team since 1944
when Richmond beat Geelong 16.18 (114) to 15.15 (105).
, and he continued to play with them until the end of 1970.
He was also the captain-coach of the East Devonport Football Club
and the Irymple Football Club.
He also served several terms as President of the East Devonport Football Club.
; he transferred to VFA club Prahran
in 1965. He played 37 games for Prahran (including playing in their 1966 premiership team). He played 70 games for Oakleigh Football Club (1968–1971), two seasons with Carnegie Football Club, and half a season with Cranbourne Football Club. He coached Clayton Juniors Football Club for 10 years (during which time the team won 3 premierships).
"Bull" and his wife Dianne (née Humphries), a former surfing champion, have three children, Matthew, Samantha, and Andrew.
Matthew
played for Richmond until his retirement and was selected on the half forward flank of Richmond's "Team Of The Century".
Samantha is married to Jade Rawlings
, the 2007 Richmond Forward Coach. They have two children.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player who played in the VFL between 1959 and 1969 for the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
and then from mid-1969 until 1970 for the South Melbourne Football Club
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
.
Career
Recruited from Casterton Football Club in 1959, he was a strong and intelligent player, with exceptional ball sense and judgement, who worked hard and followed instructions. He played his first match for Richmond's senior side when just 18.For some time he only played intermittently with the seniors — playing (at centre-half-back) in Richmond's 1962 Night Football premiership team (Richmond 8.16 (64) d. Hawthorn 9.6 (60)) — and, in 1963 and 1964, he was the captain of the Reserves side, winning the Reserves' best and fairest in both years.
He did not become a permanent senior player until 1965, when he was 25, and did not play in the Reserves' until 1967, when he played a couple of matches before returning to the seniors. He played in the 1967 premiership team.
Handball
Having been drilled in the importance of handball as a promoter of play-on football by the legendary coach and football analyst Len Smith, "Bull" found his calling as a ruck-rover under new coach Tom HafeyTom Hafey
Thomas Stanley Raymond Hafey is a former Australian rules football Victorian Football League player and coach. Hafey played for Richmond between 1953 and 1958, and coached four clubs—Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney—between 1966 and 1988, leading teams to a total of four premierships...
, who had replaced Jack Titus
Jack Titus
Jack "Skinny" Titus was an Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League between 1926 and 1943 for the Richmond Football Club. In the golden era of the 1930s, Titus was one of the great forwards who regularly thrilled the crowds with spectacular goalkicking feats...
at Richmond in 1966.
Although strong, tenacious and persistent, "Bull" was, to say the least, an inconsistent and unreliable kick, and was far from speedy.
It seemed a strategic masterstroke when Hafey encouraged "Bull" to play ruck-rover, and to rove to the rucks' hitouts (more often than not behind the ruck duel, rather than in front of it), rather than contesting the ball-ups and throw-ins with them, and to hand-pass the ball, rather than kick it, immediately he had it.
Anyone who saw "Bull" develop over 1966, and saw him flourish in 1967 — being Richmond's unchallenged best on the ground in the Grand Final, when he played his heart out with a superb display of ruck-roving and handball, until he was replaced early in the last quarter due to severe cramps after having more than 20 "possessions" — and seeing him lurking behind the pack, collecting the hitout, and then making one of his unique looping hand-passes could not fail to identify "Bull" as the glue that held the whole of Hafey's team together. In 1967 he played in Richmond's first premiership team since 1944
1944 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1944.-Influence of World War II:The wartime travel restrictions that had forced Geelong into recess the previous two years were relaxed, and Geelong rejoined the competition....
when Richmond beat Geelong 16.18 (114) to 15.15 (105).
After Richmond
Halfway through the 1969 season he was released to South MelbourneSydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, and he continued to play with them until the end of 1970.
He was also the captain-coach of the East Devonport Football Club
East Devonport Football Club
The East Devonport Football Club is an Australian rules football club which competed on an irregular basis in various non-senior North Western competitions between 1901 and 1944 before being promoted to senior status to participate in the North West Football Union from 1945 to 1986.The club is a...
and the Irymple Football Club.
He also served several terms as President of the East Devonport Football Club.
Record
His football record is impressive:- 1956-1958: Casterton Football Club, 54 games (126 goals)
- 1959-1964 and 1967-1969: Richmond Football Club Reserves, 92 games (41 goals), captain 1963, 1964, best and fairest 1963, 1964.
- 1959-1969: Richmond Football Club Seniors, 103 games (31 goals), member 1962 Night Football premiership team, 1967 VFL (Day) premiership team
- 1969-1970: South Melbourne Football Club Reserves, 11 games (9 goals)
- 1969-1970: South Melbourne Football Club Seniors, 11 games (21 goals)
- 1971-1973: East Devonport Football Club, captain-coach, 54 games (69 goals)
- 1974: Irymple Football Club, captain-coach, 19 games (36 goals)
Family
Richardson's brother, Rodger, played 36 reserve matches and one senior game for RichmondRichmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
; he transferred to VFA club Prahran
Prahran Football Club
Prahran Football Club, nicknamed The Two Blues, is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park in Orrong Road between High Street and Malvern Road, Armadale, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 2007, the club has competed in D1 Section of the Victorian Amateur Football Association...
in 1965. He played 37 games for Prahran (including playing in their 1966 premiership team). He played 70 games for Oakleigh Football Club (1968–1971), two seasons with Carnegie Football Club, and half a season with Cranbourne Football Club. He coached Clayton Juniors Football Club for 10 years (during which time the team won 3 premierships).
"Bull" and his wife Dianne (née Humphries), a former surfing champion, have three children, Matthew, Samantha, and Andrew.
Matthew
Matthew Richardson (Australian rules footballer)
Matthew "Richo" Richardson , is a retired professional Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Australian Football League...
played for Richmond until his retirement and was selected on the half forward flank of Richmond's "Team Of The Century".
Samantha is married to Jade Rawlings
Jade Rawlings
Jade Rawlings was the caretaker coach of the Richmond Tigers Football Club, and is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the AFL with the Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and the North Melbourne Football Clubs....
, the 2007 Richmond Forward Coach. They have two children.