Reg Richards
Australian rules footballer
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Reginald Morris Richards (14 December 1917 – 7 September 1991) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Blackwood, Victoria
| Reg Richards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Reginald Morris Richards | ||
| Born |
14 December 1917 Blackwood, Victoria | ||
| Died | 7 September 1991 (aged 73) | ||
| Original team | Clifton Hill CYMS (CYMSFA) | ||
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Weight | 79 kg (174 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1936–1947 | South Melbourne | 117 (57) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1947. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Richards was recruited from CYMS Football Association club Clifton Hill CYMS but came from the country town of Blackwood.[1] He started his career at South Melbourne as an 18-year-old in 1936 but wasn't a regular fixture in the team until 1940.[2]
He was a rover for South Melbourne in the 1945 VFL Grand Final "bloodbath", which they lost to Carlton.[3] After playing all 20 home and away games, he had missed the semi-final with influenza but recovered in time to be selected for the grand final, taking the place of Max Blumfield.[4]
In 1947, his final season, he missed eight games through suspension, following a fight with Fitzroy's Noel Price during their round six encounter. Price, who was also suspended for eight weeks, left Richards with a broken nose.[5] Once his VFL career ended he moved to the country and became playing coach of the Ballarat Football Club as playing coach.[6]
Reynolds also briefly served in the Australian Army during World War II.[7]