Imagine sitting in class as a 17-year-old and your English teacher calls you aside to say they were expecting a call from the Western Bulldogs about you. 

That was the lot of Ed Richards, the 16^th pick in Friday night’s NAB AFL Draft, and the person on the end of the phone was the Bulldogs’ Recruiting Manager Simon Dalrymple. 

In a twist of fate, it wasn’t the first time Dalrymple had placed this call either, Richard’s shared the same English teacher as Jack Macrae, so the omens are good so far.

In all the of pre-draft analysis, Richard’s family tree was the lead, which was understandable in that he counts Collingwood greats Ron and Lou Richards among his relatives, but it’ll be the former Oakleigh Chargers’ football that should do the talking from here.

While the Magpies were the team he watched growing up, it’s new teammate Jason Johannisen that he’s been watching closely in more recent times.

“At the start of this year and moving through, I looked up to JJ, just way he takes on the game,” he told westernbulldogs.com.au

“Obviously he had a great 2016 Grand Final, that was a great game to watch.  Just how he wanted to attack the ball and win for his team, which was great”.

With the new draftees expected to arrive at VU Whitten Oval on Monday, Richards will have the chance to start learning off of the Bulldogs speedster sooner rather than later.

In any case, he can’t wait to get started.

“I just can’t wait to get stuck into it,” he said.

“You sort of wait for it the whole year, the year sort of drags on a bit, then it finally comes to draft night.  And then to get stuck into it on Monday and really have a red hot crack at it over pre-season.”