Past Player of the Week - Richard Cole

[The Speaker]

Richard Cole​

DOB: 15/07/1983

Height: 186 cm

Weight: 87 kg

Playing number: 28 (2006-2007)

Arrived: Traded from Collingwood for pick 23 in the 2005 AFL draft

Debut: Round 17 vs Brisbane, 2006

Games: 7

Goals: 0

Departed: Delisted at the end of the 2007 season

Hailing from the Northern Territory, Richard Cole was drafted by Collingwood with pick 11 in the 2001 AFL draft. A running half-back, his first three years seemed very promising, culminating with a 2004 in which he came 6th in their best and fairest. But a tough 2005 left him wanting to leave the Magpies for Essendon. Bev Knight had been responsible for getting him into the Melbourne football system, taking the position of his legal guardian and allowing him to go to school in Box Hill, while Michael Long was his football hero. So, it seemed a logical choice for him to move to the Bombers. Unfortunately, the grass was not much greener on this side, and after two seasons in which he struggled with injuries and fitness, he was delisted. He has since played for the Darwin Buffaloes in the NT.

 

[The Speaker]

Article about Cole from just before the 03 GF:

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/26/1064083189475.html?from=storyrhs

 

[yaco55]

Definitely one who didn't live up to expectations.Not the greatest one-on-one defender and I believe his preparation was less than desirable.

 

[Doss]

Definitely one who didn't live up to expectations.Not the greatest one-on-one defender and I believe his preparation was less than desirable.

Had fairly extensive personal issues, from what I can recall. Couldn't have helped.

 

[eth-dog]

Definite lose-lose trade, the bloke they took (Cook) was a spud, played 14 games. The only half decent players taken between that pick and our next one were Ibbotson, Vince and Trent West so no harm done thank god

 

[Pweter]

I was really excited when we did that trade. Sadly that was the highest my excitement levels got with respect to his time at Essendon

 

[ant555]

As Doss said series of off field personal issues held him back.

 

[monty1104]

I remember one of my teachers used to teach Richie Cole. Said he was a nice enough kid while at high school. I remember being excited to get him, then after a couple of games, I was like "lol, what was I thinking?"

 

[keepzitreal]

worst thing is we used something like pick 23 to get him. We then traded Teddy Richards for pick 19, which was used on Dempsey. We could have had 2 picks there.

We need more Aboriginal players as a side note.

 

[bacon buster]

so he won his first game huh?
i was at that game, i don't remember him being instrumental, but i remember that it ended our longest ever (?) losing streak

i also remember being slightly excited to get him. but as you can see from that photo, he obviously didn't get his body right.

 

[The Speaker]

I've listed him as 87 kg (which he was according to the Essendon website), but other sites list him as 97 and 103 kg!

 

[vaughany]

Richie!

 

[Beerfish]

Was ahead of his time bringing back the mullet in football iirc.

 

[boncer34]

Another brilliant decision influenced by Bev Knight.