Joe's dream alive: From country footy to the MCG
Country footy star Joe Richards is one of the great stories to emerge from the 2022 NAB AFL Draft.
The 23-year-old school teacher from Wangaratta, who has been dominating in the powerful Ovens and Murray League in regional Victoria, will still be wearing the black and white stripes in 2023 however when the new season rolls around it will be for one of the most famous sporting clubs in the land, the Collingwood Football Club.
Richards had his name read out on AFL Draft night this year by the Magpies with pick 48 as one of the few players in modern times to be drafted from outside the talent pathways or state leagues system.
The 175 centimetre midfielder, who was an underage talent for the Murray Bushrangers in the elite NAB League pathway competition, is known for his explosive pace in and around the contest, his ability to hit the scoreboard, and the capacity to turn a game around on his own terms. After playing four years of seniors for the Wangaratta Magpies, Richards claimed several honours and achievements:
- 2 x Premierships
- 3 x Club Best & Fairests
- 2 x League Best & Fairest Runners up
He received a late invitation to the NAB AFL State Draft Combine after and eventually has found a place on an AFL list after years of missing out.
In 2022 Richards was coached by former Collingwood premiership player Ben Reid, who instantly became one of his strongest backers and helped the push for Richards to pursue his AFL dream:
“He has got the game for the MCG that is for sure, because he has got the speed and lateral movement," said Reid.
Collingwood recruiting manager Derek Hine was full of praise for Richards:
"He's one who really needs an opportunity. His form would suggest he's ready to take that opportunity," Hine told reporters after the AFL Draft.
"He plays the way that we play. He's instinctive in transition, he's dual-sided both by hand and by foot.
"The Grand Final was the one which really ticked the box for us. He's a player tagged week in, week out. When the game was in the balance in the last quarter he just took it apart. That was enough for me. We bring him in with a level of confidence."
