RICHARDSON, Michael

Michael Richardson was a clever half-forward who came to Essendon from Collingwood where he played 60 games from 1983 to 1985, winning All-Australian selection in his first year. Prior to that he was with Swan Districts in Western Australia and had represented Western Australia eight times. He was also in the Swan Districts 1982 premiership team.

He was renowned for his lightning dashes, skilful handball and goal sense but he was unable to show his great natural ability in his only season with Essendon in 1986.

He joined Essendon midway through the 1986 season after rejecting a 20% pay cut at Collingwood. He made his Essendon debut in Round 9 and playing every game for the rest of the season.

Despite this solid season, he was cleared to the Brisbane Bears in 1987 and played 22 games in that inaugural year. He went on to play 81 games for Brisbane, the longest stint of his three clubs, before leaving at the end of 1990 to return to Swan Districts. He had played a total of 141 games for Swans and was selected on the half-forward flank in their Team of the Century. In his final season of football in 1994, he played seven games for West Perth.

His twin brother, Steve, also played for Essendon.