Clarence vs Devonport Bellerive Oval Clarence vs Devonport

STATE OF AFFAIRS | Matthew Richardson Medal Winner
Clarence half-forward, Trent Standen, has won
the inaugural Matthew Richardson Medal after a
stellar season in the Wrest Point State League.
Awarded to the Rookie of the Year, players eligible
for the Matthew Richardson Medal must be under
23 years of age, have played less that 20 games
at the start of the season, and in no more than two
years of senior football.
Known as “Speedy” to his team-mates, Standen
began his career with the now defunct Rokeby
Junior Football Club, before being transferred
to Clarence. He played under-17, under-19,
Reserves and 10 senior games for Clarence, before
transferring to Sorell Football Club in the Southern
Football League.
His natural ability continued to shine through, with
two Best and Fairest awards at Sorell, and selection
in several SFL representative squads, although
circumstances deemed that he never actually
played for the representative team.
After four brilliant years for Sorell, Standen returned
to Clarence for the 2010 season, playing every
game this year. His season will culminate this
weekend when Clarence take on Devonport in the
Wrest Point State League Grand Final.
The Matthew Richardson Medal is named after one
of Tasmania’s and Richmond’s modern day greats.
The rise of Richardson
Matthew Richardson was born and started his
football career in Devonport. His father, Allan,
was a premiership player for Richmond in 1967.
Throughout childhood and his adult life football has
been front and centre. An acknowledged ‘footyhead’
he is now also a respected commentator on
the game.
Richardson played 16 games and kicked 23 goals
with Devonport in 1992 and was drafted later that
year under the ‘Father / Son’ rule. He debuted for
Richmond in 1993 and in his first season he was an
AFL Rising Star nominee.
For much of his career Matthew Richardson has
made a name for himself as an enigmatic player
in Richmond’s forward line, predominately at
full forward. He has shown himself capable of
producing great feats of high marking, running
and goal kicking, but has had many seasons
interrupted by injury during his career. He has lost
the equivalent of 3 full seasons to injury.
In 2008 a move to the wing early in the year proved
a masterstroke. At 34 year of age the star veteran
was given a free-wheeling role and he averaged
18 touches, finished equal third in the Brownlow
Medal, took the most home and away marks in the
AFL (222) and still topped Richmond’s goalkicking
with 48.
Matthew Richardson has multiple individual player
honours and has been recognized by Richmond
FC and Tasmania with selection in their respective
‘Teams of the Century’ and by his home state with
early inclusion and then ‘Legend’ status in the
‘Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame’.
Richmond player honours:
• Brownlow Medal: 3rd (equal) in 2008.
• Best and fairest - 2007; 2nd best and fairest 1996, 1999,
2002, 2005; 3rd best and fairest 2008.
• All-Australian 1996, 1999, 2008.
• International Rules Series 1999.
• Leading goalkicker 1994, 1996 to 1999, 2001 to 2008.
• Alex Jesaulenko Medal 1996.
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