| Alan Richardson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Alan R. Richardson | ||
| Date of birth | 17 May 1965 | ||
| Original team | East Burwood | ||
| Height/Weight | 180 cm / 83 kg | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1987-1996 | Collingwood | 114 (10) | |
|
1 Playing statistics to end of 1996 season .
|
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Alan R. Richardson (born 17 May 1965) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL).
Richardson had initially been listed at North Melbourne, where he played at reserves level, but was let go by the club without being able to break into the VFL. A half back, he was given a second chance by Collingwood and made his league debut a week before his 22nd birthday, in 1987.[1]
It wasn't until 1990 that he became a regular fixture in the Collingwood side and participated in both qualifying finals against West Coast, after the first was drawn. He also played in the semi final win over Essendon, which saw Collingwood make the grand final, but cracked his collarbone after contact by Adrian Burns. On the Thursday before the premiership decider, Richardson failed a fitness test after being bumped by his coach Leigh Matthews while walking off the ground. He was replaced by Shane Kerrison, a surprise inclusion ahead of Ron McKeown who had missed the semi final.[2]
Once his AFL career ended, Richardson became a coach and was put in charge of his original club, East Burwood. He coached them to EFL premierships in 1999 and 2000.[3] He was the senior coach of VFL club Coburg for the next two years and in 2003 joined the Western Bulldogs as an assistant coach. After three seasons at the Bulldogs, Richardson was appointed to Mick Malthouse's coaching staff at Collingwood and given the role of development manager. From 2008 to 2010 he was an assistant coach with Essendon.
He is currently an assistant to Brett Ratten at the Carlton Football Club.