Ash Riddell

Ashleigh Riddell (born 7 March 1996) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the North Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). Riddell is a dual AFL Women's All-Australian and won the North Melbourne best and fairest award in season 6.

Ash Riddell
Riddell playing for North Melbourne in 2021
Personal information
Full name Ashleigh Riddell
Date of birth (1996-03-07) 7 March 1996
Original team(s) Melbourne University (VFLW)
Draft 2018 free agent signing
Debut Round 1, 2019, North Melbourne vs. Carlton, at North Hobart Oval
Height 158 cm (5 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club North Melbourne
Number 7
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019– North Melbourne 51 (8)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 8, 2023.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Riddell played junior football in Melbourne's north-east for the Eltham Panthers, crossing to basketball as a teenager due to "a greater long-term pathway".[1][2] Following the AFL's decision to launch a new women's competition, she returned to football in 2016, playing for Fitzroy in the third division of the now-defunct Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL). Riddell then joined Diamond Creek in 2017 and was selected in the VFL Women's (VFLW) Team of the Year.[3] She was invited to the first AFLW Draft Combine,[4] but her rapid rise in the sport stalled when she was passed over at the 2017 AFL Women's draft.[1]

With Diamond Creek not holding a VFLW licence for 2018, Riddell was persuaded by coach Scott Gowans to move to North Melbourne's affiliate women's team, Melbourne University. She was appointed captain in her first season at the club and was again named in the VFLW Team of the Year.[1][5]

AFL Women's career
Riddell during a pre-season practice match for North Melbourne in 2019

Riddell was signed by North Melbourne as a free agent during the expansion club signing period of the 2018 AFL Women's draft.[6] She made her debut in the club's inaugural match, a 36-point victory over Carlton at North Hobart Oval in the opening round of the 2019 season.[7] Her season was cut short due to an ankle injury sustained the following week in North Melbourne's win over Greater Western Sydney when opponent Nicola Barr made an illegal shepherd behind play; Barr received a one-match suspension as a result.[8]

Riddell was named in the 2020 AFL Women's All-Australian team after a standout season in which she led the competition for kicks.[9][10] Leading into the 2021 season, womens.afl journalist Sarah Black named Riddell at no. 17 on her list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.[11] She had another strong season in 2021, finishing third in her club's best and fairest count for the second consecutive year.[12] At the end of the season, she re-signed with North Melbourne for two more seasons.[13]

Riddell was named at no. 14 in Sarah Black's 2022 season 6 list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.[14] She was best afield in North Melbourne's round 1 win over Geelong,[15] equalling the AFLW record for most disposals in a match with 35;[16] she also won the maximum ten coaches' votes[17] and was named in womens.afl's Team of the Week for round 1.[18] Riddell was North Melbourne's best player in its loss to Adelaide in round 2[19] and was best afield in North Melbourne's win over Greater Western Sydney in round 3;[20] she again polled the maximum ten coaches' votes to top the leaderboard after round 3[21] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for that round.[22] She was best afield in North Melbourne's win over Carlton in round 4,[23] polling seven coaches' votes[24] and again achieving selection in womens.afl's Team of the Week,[25] and was among North Melbourne's best players in its win over Fremantle in round 5.[26] At the halfway point of the season, Riddell led the competition for disposals with 139, at an average of 27.9 a game.[27] She was among North Melbourne's best players in its win over Richmond in round 6,[28] polling six coaches' votes,[29] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for that round.[30] Riddell was again among North Melbourne's best players in its round 7 win over Collingwood,[31] polling six coaches' votes[32] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for round 7.[33] She was North Melbourne's best player in its losses to Melbourne in round 8[34] and Brisbane in round 9;[35] she polled nine coaches' votes in the round 8 match, the equal-most for the match,[36] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for that round.[37] Riddell was best afield in North Melbourne's win over West Coast in round 10, breaking the record for most disposals in an AFLW match with 42;[38] she polled the maximum ten coaches' votes to finish equal-second behind Emily Bates in that year's AFLW champion player of the year award,[39] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for round 10.[40] She was named in Champion Data's 2022 season 6 AFLW All-Star stats team after leading the competition for disposals with 29.9 a game, recording at least 30 disposals in six games.[41] Riddell was North Melbourne's best player in its qualifying final loss to Fremantle.[42]

Despite reports of a "big offer"[43] to join expansion club Sydney,[44] Riddell re-signed with North Melbourne in June 2022 for a further two seasons.[45]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 8, 2023.[46]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
  †  
 Led the league for 
the season
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2019North Melbourne7 21120626390.50.510.03.013.01.54.52
2020North Melbourne7 714112†3714923320.10.616.0†5.321.33.34.61
2021North Melbourne7 10351417721832450.30.514.17.721.83.24.510
2022 (S6)North Melbourne7 1104191131†322†41440.00.417.4†11.929.3†3.74.017
2022 (S7)North Melbourne7 13141999028937530.10.315.36.922.22.84.17
2023North Melbourne7 82213411925325450.30.316.814.931.63.15.6
Career 5182079746012571612270.20.415.69.024.63.24.537

Honours and achievements

References
  1. "AFLW: Sweet relief". nmfc.com.au. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. Booth, Sarah (13 October 2017). "Girls Take Footy To New Heights". Sarah Booth. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  3. "VFL WOMEN'S TEAM OF THE YEAR - VFL". 14 March 2019. Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  4. "AFLW: Women's Combine list revealed". afl.com.au. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  5. "VFL W Team of the Year - VFL". 4 March 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  6. "AFLW signing: Ash Riddell". nmfc.com.au. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  7. Warren, Stu (3 February 2019). "Match report: Roos thrash Blues on memorable debut". womens.afl. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  8. Fowler, Michael (12 February 2019). "Roo sidelined for six weeks as Giant cops suspension for off-the-ball bump". The Age. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  9. McGowan, Marc (27 April 2020). "AFLW All-Australian team revealed, new wave dominates". womens.afl. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  10. "AFLW All-Australian team for 2020 revealed: 12 clubs represented as two stars make history". Fox Sports (Australia). 27 April 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  11. Black, Sarah (27 January 2021). "Sarah Black's top 30 AFLW players: Blues dynamo rockets up to No.1". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  12. "Best and fairest wrap-up: Who won your club's awards?". AFLW. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  13. Zanardo, Karla (17 June 2021). "AFLW: Roos eye the future". nmfc.com.au. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  14. Black, Sarah (6 January 2022). "Sarah Black's Top 30 AFLW players". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  15. Australian Associated Press (8 January 2022). "Roos survive almighty scare to edge plucky Cats". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  16. Woods, Dan (11 January 2022). "Ash Riddell equals AFLW disposals record in midfield masterclass". nmfc.com.au. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  17. "AFLCA votes, R1: Five perfect 10s, but who got the Derby nod?". womens.afl. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  18. Black, Sarah (11 January 2022). "AFLW Team of the Week, round one". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  19. Australian Associated Press (16 January 2022). "Two on the trot: Crows flex muscles against Roos as premiership quest rolls on". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  20. Black, Sarah (23 January 2022). "Dominant first half sets up Roos' win over Giants". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  21. "AFLCA votes, R3: Gun Roo storms to the top, superstar Tiger in hot pursuit". womens.afl. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  22. Black, Sarah (26 January 2022). "AFLW Team of the Week, round three". womens.afl. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  23. Gabelich, Josh (30 January 2022). "Classy Kangas jump into top four with big win over Blues". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  24. "AFLCA votes, R4: Crows superstar does it again, Freo skipper on the move". womens.afl. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  25. Black, Sarah (2 February 2022). "AFLW Team of the Week, round four". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  26. Black, Sarah (6 February 2022). "Kangas give Freo's unbeaten run the heave-ho". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  27. Black, Sarah (10 February 2022). "Stats stars: Who is leading at the halfway mark of the season?". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  28. Gabelich, Josh (12 February 2022). "Roos see off Tiger challenge to stay in touch with top two". womens.afl. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  29. "AFLCA votes, R6: Welcome back Tyla, new clubhouse leader". womens.afl. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  30. Black, Sarah (15 February 2022). "AFLW Team of the Week, round six". womens.afl. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  31. Beveridge, Riley (20 February 2022). "Five on the trot: Garner masterclass steers Roos past Pies". womens.afl. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  32. "AFLCA votes, R7: Tayla's perfect ten, trio tied at the top". womens.afl. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  33. Black, Sarah (23 February 2022). "AFLW Team of the Week, round seven". womens.afl. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  34. Black, Sarah (26 February 2022). "Dees jump to second after downing ill-disciplined Roos". womens.afl. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  35. Australian Associated Press (6 March 2022). "Roo'd awakening: Clinical win for Lions over fellow finals aspirant". womens.afl. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  36. "AFLCA votes, R8: Perfect 10 sends Lion to the top, first voteless week for Freo star". womens.afl. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  37. Black, Sarah (1 March 2022). "AFLW Team of the Week, round eight". womens.afl. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  38. Australian Associated Press (12 March 2022). "Riddell SMASHES AFLW record as Roos tune up for finals in style". womens.afl. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  39. Bastiani, Gemma (17 March 2022). "Lion Queen: Gun midfielder claims coaches' award, tie for second". womens.afl. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  40. Black, Sarah (15 March 2022). "AFLW Team of the Week, round 10". womens.afl. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  41. Bastiani, Gemma (18 March 2021). "All-Star stats team: Crows lead the way, one Pie makes the cut". womens.afl. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  42. Black, Sarah (19 March 2022). "Anchors away: Dockers steam into prelim, North says hoo-roo to finals". womens.afl. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  43. Wood, Lauren (2 April 2022). "'F****** mad': AFLW coach fumes over expansion pillaging". codesports. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  44. "Swans hunting Roos ball-magnet in massive move". AFLW. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  45. "Locked in: Club champion signs on to stay at North".
  46. "Ash Riddell – player stats by season". Australian Football. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
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