KNOWING his role in a side has allowed utility Ted Richards to grow from a “bits ’n pieces” player at his former club to one of the Sydney Swans most valuable assets.

The one-time Essendon discard joined the Swans after their premiership season in 2005 and quickly established himself as one of Paul Roos’ go-to men when a hole needed filling at either end of the field.

While Richards is happy plugging a gap up forward or in defence, he admits he is likely to spend more time down back in 2007, especially given teammate Lewis Roberts-Thomson will battle to see much senior action in the first half of the season because of a foot injury.

But Richards, who played most of his junior football in attack, is relishing his defensive role.

Those who observed last year’s epic Grand Final against the West Coast Eagles saw just what effect the 192-centimetre Swan can have when running out of defence.

And that match was one Richards stores in the memory bank and draws on when looking for confidence.

“It was good to play well on a big day,” Richards said.

“I did take a lot of confidence from that and the fact that West Coast don’t really have any bad players.

“All over the field they’ve got good players. I was playing on some good opposition and I guess I probably learned a bit that day too about really working and working my opponent.”

During his time at the Bombers, Richards enjoyed only limited game time. And when he did play, he was uncertain of his role.

Now, however, he is settled at the Swans and with regular meetings with the coaching staff, knows just what is expected of him week to week.

“At Essendon I was kind of getting to the stage where I was a bit unsure,” he said.

“I’d be in a different position every week and I’d be in and out of the team and at times I got a bit lost as to where I actually fitted into the team.

“Despite the fact that at times I am playing forward and back this year, I still feel like that’s my role in the team.

“I probably have been playing more in the backline but I’m sure I will be called upon every now and again to play in the forward line. I guess that is my role, to be adaptable.”

That adaptability, especially in LRT’s absence, will be crucial to the Swans’ defence in the first half of the season.

Richards can prove a tricky match-up when playing forward. Likewise, he sometimes finds himself pitted against players of all sizes when in the defensive arc.

This week against Richmond, for example, he could find himself on Tigers star Matthew Richardson or down the other end trying to jag a goal for his side.

“It’s going to change week to week but with ‘Lewy’ out for another month or so I’ll probably go into his role a bit in taking that leading tall player at centre half-forward, so I’m probably going to be based at centre half-back at least for the next few weeks,” Richards said.