Mike Richardson (Australian footballer)

Mike Richardson
Personal information
Full name	Michael John Richardson
Date of birth	16 March 1959
Original team(s)	Midvale
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1978–82, 1991–93 1983–1986 1986 1987–1990 1994	Swan Districts (WAFL) Collingwood Essendon Brisbane Bears West Perth (WAFL)	144 (220)[1] 060 (117) 015 0(14) 081 0(43) 007 00(6)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1994.
Career highlights
Premiership Player (WAFL) 1982 WA State Team 1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1988,1992 All Australian 1983[2]

Michael John "Mike" Richardson (born 16 March 1959)^[3] is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Collingwood Football Club, Essendon Football Club and the Brisbane Bears in the AFL and Swan Districts Football Club and West Perth Football Club in the WAFL throughout the late 1970s and early 1990s.

Early career

Richardson began his career at Swan Districts in 1978 at an age of 19, he was regarded as a highly skilled fast placed roving forward or mid fielder. Richardson played as a rover in the 1982 Grand Final and was among the team's best players. He also topped the goal kicking list at Swan Districts that season with 75 goals.^[4]

VFL/AFL career

He was recruited to Collingwood Football Club in 1983 and played a total of 60 games, kicking 117 goals, before leaving midway through the 1986 season to play for the Essendon football club. He remained at Essendon for the remainder of the 1986 season playing 15 games and kicking 14 goals. Richardson then joined the inaugural Brisbane Bears Team in the 1987 season^[5] he played some of his best football at the club and held down many positions. He left at the end of the 1990 season after playing 81 games and kicking 43 goals to return to Swan Districts.

WAFL

He played another two seasons at Swans before leaving to play with West Perth for the 1994 season to bring up his 300th game. Richardson played a total of 141 games and kicked 220 goals for Swans throughout his career.^[6] During his career he played over 300 games and kicked 439 goals. He is selected in the Swan Districts Team of the Century on a half-forward flank.

Personal life

He is the twin brother of former Essendon and WAFL player Stephen Richardson.^[7]

References

1. "Premiership Players 1931 - 2009". West Australian Football Commission.
2. "Full Poins Footy – Michael Richardson". 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
3. "Footy Stats – Oldest Players 1990". 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
4. "Swan Districts Football Club – Top Goal kickers". 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
5. "Brisbane Lions Football Club – First game". 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
6. "Swan Districts Football Club- All players". 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-17. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
7. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.