Richard Ambrose

Richard Ambrose
Personal information
Full name Richard James Ambrose
Date of birth 10 June 1972
Original team Wanganui/Shepparton[1]
Draft 21st, 1990 AFL Draft
Height/Weight 191 cm / 92 kg
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1991–1992
1993
1994–1998
1999–2004
Essendon
Sydney Swans
Port Adelaide
Subiaco
0 (0)
3 (1)
52 (29)
113 (88)
1 Playing statistics to end of 2004 season .

Richard Ambrose (born 10 June 1972) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). He also played for Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and Subiaco in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).

A key position player, Ambrose started his AFL career at Essendon after being picked up by the club with the 21st selection of the 1990 AFL Draft. He was however restricted to the reserves and was unable to break into the seniors over two seasons. He was one of three players that Essendon traded to Sydney at the end of 1992 in return for the 20th draft pick, which was used on Scott Cummings. The others were Ed Considine and Michael Werner.

Ambrose, who hailed from Shepparton, finally made his league in 1993 when he was part of the Sydney team which took on the West Coast Eagles at the SCG. He played just two more games for the club, a win over Melbourne and loss to Adelaide, both at home.[2]

Leaving Sydney after just one season, Ambrose arrived at SANFL club Port Adelaide in 1994 and played for five seasons without ever becoming a regular fixture in the team. He was, however, a member of Port's 1998 premiership team.[3]

He moved to Subiaco in 1999 and by playing in the WAFL had distinction of being part of clubs from four different states during the 1990s. At this stage the league was named the Westar Rules and he was the competition's best player in 2000 when he won the Sandover Medal as a centre half forward.[4] He polled 34 votes to beat teammate Michael Symons and in doing so became the first ever forward from Subiaco to win the award. Ambrose participated in finals football every season he was at he club, culminating in a grand final loss in 2003 and premiership in 2004. He was a regular Western Australian interstate representative.

Ambrose signed with Corowa-Rutherglen in 2005. He played for the Ovens and Murray Football League club until retiring after the 2008 season, although he made a comeback in 2009.

References

  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785. 
  2. ^ "Richard Ambrose". AFL Tables. http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/R/Richard_Ambrose.html. 
  3. ^ The Border Mail, "Hoo Roo, Wig", 9 September 2008, Brad McGrath
  4. ^ "Richard Ambrose (Subiaco)". WAFL Online. http://www.waflonline.com.au/players/player.php?playerID=4648.