Daniel Rich

[b_lions16]

Daniel Rich

Number: 10
Height: 183
Weight: 84
DOB: 07-06-1990
Debut: Round 1 2009 (vs. West Coast Eagles @ Gabba)

Games: 24
Goals : 14

Introduction
Daniel Rich is a high possession-winning in-and-under midfielder with a penetrating left foot and quality skills. The high-profile West Australian recruit received the AFL Rising Star Award in his debut season with the Lions and is now widely regarded as one of the most damaging midfielders in the AFL competition.

Background
• West Australian Daniel Rich was an accomplished junior footballer who achieved plenty before even reaching the AFL ranks.

• He joined WAFL side Subiaco in 2007 and played senior football in his first season.

• He graduates from the esteemed AIS/AFL Academy and represented Western Australia in the 2007 U18 national championships and earned All-Australian honours.

• He starred in Subiaco’s 2007 finals campaign including their Grand Final win over Claremont which catapulted him to one of the most talked about teenage prospects in the country.

• During his final year as a junior, Rich showed his leadership potential by captaining Western Australia in the U18 championships and earned All-Australian honours for the second consecutive season.

• He was also a key part of Subiaco’s back-to-back premiership winning team. Remarkably, Rich had featured in two senior WAFL premierships before even being drafted to the AFL.

• Rich was lauded as an almost certain top three selection pre-draft and had even been tipped to be the first player chosen in November’s selection meeting.

• He was unable to participate in much of the Draft Camp testing due to a sore hamstring sustained in the WAFL Grand Final, but still managed to impressive the club recruiters.

• He proved the 2009 National Draft’s big slider, falling to Pick No.7 where the Lions had no hesitation in reading out the highly credentialed West Australian’s name with the Club’s first selection.

2009
• The West Australian teenager didn't put a foot wrong in his first pre-season with the Lions and was rewarded with selection in the Club's season opener against West Coast (the team he had previously supported) at the Gabba.

• Rich had the football world talking after he collected 21 disposals and had eight inside 50s in his first match. The performance earned him the first AFL Rising Star Nomination for the 2009 season and he was immediately intilled as the favourite to take out the award.

• Rich became a regular contributor to the senior side. His hard-tackling and ball-winning ability were features of his game while his penetrating left foot regularly found targets inside the Lions' attacking zones.

• He collected a season-high 32 disposals against eventual premiers Geelong in Round 15 at the Gabba which further cemented his status as the game's best young player.

• He starred in his first trip back to Subiaco Oval in Round 16, collecting 31 disposals and kicking a 60m goal in the wet against Fremantle.

• He played all 24 senior matches in 2009 - including two Finals - and averaged an impressive 17.3 disposals per match. He also kicked 14 goals during the season which ranked him fifth overall at the Club.

• He became only the second person in history to be unanimously voted as the AFL Rising Star - receiving top votes from all nine judges. He became only the third person in Club history to take home the prestigious award.

• Rich received further accolades at the AFLPA Awards when he blitzed the field to take home the Best First Year Player Award.

• Not surprisingly, he won the Lions' Rookie of the Year award and also finished 6th overall in the Merrett-Murray Medal - the highest ever placing of a first year Brisbane Lions player.

http://www.lions.com.au/players/play...o/default.aspx

[christicehurst]

These kids are younger than me!

[b_lions16]

I am happy with Rich tho I am disappointed that we missed out on Ziebell. He was locked in at 3rd for a while and managed to slip down. He will be great for the future alongside Magnet and Redden. A Bargain Pick.

[robinsonm]

looks a likely type doesn't he???!!!

potentially could be a wonderful pick in our new era under voss the boss!!!

[worbsy]

He's the best midfielder of the draft. We just got ourselves a future champion. He likens himself to Luke Hodge!

[worbsy]

Phantom Draft said:

3 – FREMANTLE – DANIEL RICH
Subiaco, WA, Medium midfielder, June 7, 1990, 183.7cm, 83.2kg
(Draft range: 1-9)

Make no mistake this is where the draft takes shape. It is understood Fremantle is still deciding on Rich or Stephen Hill, with Chris Yarran and Hamish Hartlett also in the mix. For much of the year, Rich has been lauded as a certain top three draft selection – and even a No.1 pick – but Hill's continued growth has massive appeal for Freo. Although Hill has dominated No.3 talk in recent times, it is believed Fremantle will prefer the more proven talent – Rich. What's so intriguing about this selection is that Rich and Hill could also slide to the fringe of the top 10. If Fremantle opts for Hill, Rich could genuinely land at Port Adelaide (4), Essendon (5), Carlton (6), Brisbane Lions (7), Richmond (8) or North Melbourne (9).

[b_lions16]

"It's very exciting," Rich told Victoria's SEN radio this morning. "To be at a club like the Brisbane Lions is amazing."

"It's a very proud and loyal Club and I really want to get over there and earn the respect of the players and coaches," he said.

[b_lions16]

AFL National Draft, Round 1, Pick No. 7

DANIEL RICH - Medium midfielder
Date of birth:7 July 1990
Height:183.7cm
Weight:83.2kg
Club:Subiaco / Sorrento Duncraig JFC (WA)

Rich is a high possession winning in-and-under midfielder who is hard at the ball with quality skills including a penetrating left foot kick. He was a dual All-Australian U18 selection in 2007-08 who led the competition for inside 50s and ranked second overall for clearances. This back-to-back premiership player with the Subiaco Lions also starred during WA's loss to VIC Metro with 23 disposals including six clearances and eight inside 50s. AIS/AFL Academy graduate.

Jason McCartney says:I don't think there would be many players who’ve gone into the draft in recent times being a dual-premiership player at senior level. It was interesting to watch Daniel in the U18 championships this year. Last year he was part of a gun midfield with Chris Masten, Rhys Palmer and those guys but this time he was a target for the opposition. He worked through it though and he's got a left foot which is just so penetrating. If he gets his hands on it at a centre clearance then he's putting it 20m out from goal lace out – it's just a thumping left foot.

Stats: NAB AFL U18 Championships Averages – Team: WA
Matches: 5, Kicks: 10.2, Handballs: 5.8, Disposals: 16, Marks: 2.6, Hit-Outs: 0.2, Tackles: 3.8, Goals: 0.6.

In his own words
What sort of player are you?
I’m a midfielder who doesn’t mind getting in-and-under.
Strengths?
My left foot is okay and I guess being an in-and-under type is probably a strength.
Which AFL player do you feel you most resemble?
Maybe kind of Luke Hodge just because of the left foot.

[b_lions16]

WHEN the Brisbane Lions read out Daniel Rich's name with the seventh selection in Saturday's NAB AFL Draft, they automatically gained countless members.

And the West Coast Eagles probably lost a few.

Such is the way with the national competition, where teenagers are plucked from their homes on one side of the country to pursue their dreams of an AFL career thousands of kilometers away.

That is the case for new Brisbane Lions midfielder Rich, who always loomed as one of the shapers of Saturday's draft.

The hard-running ballwinner with the precise left foot isn't fazed by the dramatic change of scenery set to come his way –he's just thrilled to finally get his chance after two years of senior footy at WAFL level.

"Obviously I'm glad it's over, I'm really excited about what's ahead," Rich said from Telstra Dome on Saturday.

"Brisbane's a great place, a great club, so I can't wait to get up there and get into it."

"Obviously I just kept open-minded about what was going to happen and I was prepared for anything really, so it comes down to you getting the chance to playing AFL; that's the main thing and I'm excited about that."

Saturday was an emotional ride for Rich's parents, Greg and Heather.

Being drafted by a Western Australian club would only involve a drive down the road to see him play, but interstate would involve either occasional air travel or, more likely when living in Perth, an afternoon or evening nestled on the couch.

Geographically, Brisbane is furthest away from the Rich family home and while there was initial shock, Heather Rich said she was coping.

"I've got my head around it," she said.

"We're looking forward to travelling to Brisbane.

"I've been there twice before but I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of it, I'm sure we will."

Greg Rich said he was happy his son was getting a chance to live his dream and realised some others weren't so fortunate.

"After considering some of the kids that missed out … we're happy just to get him drafted anywhere really," he said.

"Because that's his dream, that's what he wants to do. You know he's happy going anywhere at this stage."

Rich's father said the family knew this week they might be spending their last days together for an extended period when word got out that Fremantle was considering drafting Stephen Hill with the third pick overall.

He knew his son wasn't in the sights of West Coast at pick two – the club the family has long supported.

"We're Brisbane supporters now … you can only barrack for one," he said.

"We'll always have a soft spot for West Coast, we've been members there for a long time; but no, we're Brisbane supporters now."

[Jedstheman]

So Stumps4arms got given to us on a platter what a great pick I was primed for Jacky Zee at seven but landing Rich who will be on the bench rd1 is very promising................... look out Albert Proud because Stumps and you have a very similar game style but Stumps can kick it longer.