Joe Richards felt he had to make his move to Port Adelaide this off-season to get the most out of his AFL career.
The 25-year-old joined the Power this off-season alongside Jack Lukosius in a three-way trade that saw Collingwood land Dan Houston and Gold Coast pick up John Noble amongst a glut of draft selections also changing hands.
While Richards had the smallest profile of those who moved teams in that trade, he was a player that the Power had long identified despite him playing just nine AFL games across two seasons with the Magpies.
Despite impressing in those games, the speedy outside runner was often forced to play at VFL level due to some of the names Collingwood already had in the small forward position.
It was that chance of extra opportunity at the top level that convinced him to request a trade to Alberton as he wants to add as many games as he can to the nine currently against his name.
“I’m not 18, I’m 25 now, so one of the main reasons moving over to Port was opportunity and to play as many AFL games as you can,” Richards told SEN The Run Home.
“But it was obviously a tough process and it was pretty lengthy in the end. There are great people at Collingwood and they gave me an opportunity as well taking me when I was 22 years old, so that played quite a big role.
“I think I only made the decision a day or two before the trade period actually started. But I first met with Port Adelaide a couple of months before then, with Ken Hinkley and Jason Cripps who does a lot of the list work there.
“It was a pretty lengthy process, but all in all, it was all just about opportunity.
“What Port Adelaide pitched to me was that there’s an opportunity there and hopefully a spot that I can make my own.”
As well as having a better chance of playing AFL footy, Richards – who hails from Wangaratta – feels that the city of Adelaide suits him more than Melbourne as he embarks on his first pre-season with the Power.
“It was pretty early on that they set their intentions on me and the role that they could give me,” Richards said.
“We just had the one catch-up during the season and the rest was after that.
“While it was mostly about opportunity, even living in Adelaide sort of played a part in it.
“I’m from country Victoria originally, so moving to Adelaide probably makes me feel that little bit more comfortable, it’s a bit more relaxed here compared to Melbourne.
“I just want to earn a bit of respect from my teammates, jump in, train hard and earn an opportunity early in the year.”
Richards will also don the No.35 at Port Adelaide, a number that has been retired since 2012 following the passing of John McCarthy during a post-season trip to Las Vegas.
Having also joined Port Adelaide from Collingwood like McCarthy, Richards jumped at the opportunity to honour the famous number which was also worn by Chad Cornes.
