In his fourth season with the Pies but his first in the senior side, the 21 year old has admirably filled the breach in the absence of first-string ruckman Josh Fraser.
Against Adelaide on Friday night, Richards had 15 possessions, 13 hitouts and kicked his first AFL goal.
He hasn’t missed a game since making his debut in round two and has averaged 17 hit-outs a match.
He was Collingwood’s fourth selection (37th overall following Alan Didak, Jason Cloke and Ryan Lonie) from Coldstream Football Club via the Eastern Ranges in the 2000 National’s AFL Draft.
Richards had a kidney injury in 2001 and a knee injury in 2002, and spent all of last year with Williamstown’s flag-winning VFL side.
