A humble champion.
Ed Richards’ maiden Best and Fairest is important on many fronts.
Firstly, it represents Richards cementing his place in Bulldogs’ history, his name now forever to be mentioned amongst other former winners including current teammates Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore.
It also signifies the first recognition at any level of competitive football that the young midfielder has been acknowledged as the Club’s best (except for maybe in primary school).
The moment hadn’t sunk in for the 26-year-old when speaking to Bulldogs’ media at the Charles Sutton Medal - the usually chatty midfielder lost for words when describing the occasion.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Richards said.
“I don’t really know what to say.
“To be acknowledged amongst my teammates - it’s a great feeling. It’s really special.”
Richards’ recognition as the 2025 Charles Sutton Medallist comes on the back of a career-best year where he left few personal records unturned.
The permanent move into the midfield saw Richards’ explosive game style consistently on display, particularly important in the early stages of the season and through the absence of Bontempelli.
Richards would finish the season as the highest-scoring midfielder with 22 goals, breaking the Club record for goal assists with 35 in total, while also averaging 26 disposals and six clearances per game.
“It’s got to go down to the people I’m playing with and the people that are around me in the midfield,” Richards humbly said
“They were so helpful in learning throughout the pre-season.
“Once it came to game day and playing, they made me shine.”
Richards was glowing about the impact of his teammates on helping achieve his maiden best and fairest, particularly speaking of the importance of captain Marcus Bontempelli and vice-captain Tom Liberatore on his development.
Fittingly, the trio would finish as the top three on the night, Richards narrowly edging out Bontempelli by 13 votes.
“You can’t ask for two better teachers, role models, people to look up to, people to aspire to be,” Richards said
“We acknowledged them as a club as two of our all-time greatest.
“Their resume of what they’ve done in their careers - I just look forward to them to continuing to play with them.
“It should be some fun. To hopefully have some success in the near future - I look forward to that.”
Richards’ best-and-fairest win hits a third historical marker. This time, at a family level.
The midfielder also continued an important family legacy, writing another important chapter in the esteemed Pannam-Richards lineage.
Featuring the likes of Ron and Lou Richards, as well as Charlie and Alby Pannam, the family has played in over 1000 V/AFL games since 1800s.
There have been premierships, captaincy and hall of fame inclusions.
Until last night, however, there had only been one other Best and Fairest win at the senior level handed to Alby Pannam who secured the Copeland Trophy at Collingwood back in 1942.
83-years later - and with the Charles Sutton Medal around his neck, the Pannam-Richards legacy continues while another dynasty could just be beginning.
