Daniel Rich

Daniel Rich (born 7 June 1990) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). He began his career in 2009, winning the Rising Star in his first year. After 275 AFL games and one All-Australian selection (in 2021), he retired in 2023.

For other people named Daniel Rich, see Daniel Rich (disambiguation).
Daniel Rich
Rich playing for Brisbane in August 2018
Personal information
Full name Daniel Rich
Nickname(s) Dan, Richy, Bam Bam
Date of birth (1990-06-07) 7 June 1990
Original team(s) Subiaco (WAFL)
Draft No. 7, 2008 national draft
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 95 kg (209 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current club Brisbane Lions
Number 10
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2009–2023 Brisbane Lions 275 (116)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2023 season.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Prior to being drafted by Brisbane, Rich had already amassed a considerable football résumé. This included under-18 selection for Western Australia in both 2007 and 2008, including selection for the All-Australian team both years, as well as playing in two senior premierships for Subiaco in the WAFL.[1] Following strong performances at senior level, Rich was regarded by many observers as a potential top-two selection in the months leading up to the draft.[2]

AFL career

Rich made an impressive senior debut in Round 1, 2009, amassing 21 possessions and 4 tackles, a performance which garnered him the Rising Star nomination for Round 1.[3] He was rewarded for an outstanding first-year season with the 2009 NAB Rising Star award, being only the second Rising Star winner to poll maximum votes from all 9 judges; he also created history by becoming the third consecutive player to be drafted at pick seven and win the award. The praise for Rich's debut season kept coming, this time coming from the players themselves, after winning the AFLPA award for Best First-Year Player by more than 400 votes.

Following a stellar first season, Rich added bulk to his frame over the 2010 pre-season and established himself as a key component of the Lions midfield in 2010. While he was consistently among the Lions top performers in the midfield, he particularly shone in the half-back line towards the tail end of the season in the Lions’ narrow loss to St Kilda in Round 15, against Melbourne in Round 18, and Essendon in Round 21. He led the Lions in inside-50s (93) and was second for tackles with 103, and had an impressive average of 19 disposals per game. He finished inside the top ten in the 2010 Merrett–Murray Medal, placing 8th with 24.5 votes.

Rich played his 100th AFL game against Geelong in Round 2, 2014, but he suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the loss to the Gold Coast Suns the following week.[4]

Rich was selected for the 2021 All-Australian team in the half-back position. He was the only Lion to make the team in 2021.[5]

In Round 13 of the 2023 season, after the Lions were shockingly upset by Hawthorn, fellow Lion Jack Gunston and Rich voluntarily stood themselves down from selection after being unhappy with their form.[6]

On the 4th of September, 2023, Rich announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2023 season, after a 275-game career.[7]

Rich was not selected at AFL level again after he stood himself down after the Hawks game, meaning he was not a part of the Lions’s squad for the 2023 AFL Grand Final. This was the first time the club had made it to the grand final during Rich’s time at the club, which was seen by many in the wider AFL community as unfortunate timing due to Rich’s loyalty to the club during their time at the bottom of the ladder, but also reflective of his selfless and loyal attitude at the club.[8] Prior to the aforementioned grand final, Rich won the 2023 edition of the Fox Footy Longest Kick, kicking a total distance of 69.5 metres (228 ft)—which is the second-longest kick in the competition's 8-year history—and winning $10,000.[9][10]

Rich announced on the Kick Ons podcast, hosted by teammates Cameron Rayner and Hugh McCluggage, that he would remain at the Lions after his retirement, but he has yet to announce in what capacity that will be.[11]

Personal life

Rich was educated in Western Australia, attending secondary schooling at Sacred Heart College, Sorrento. He has two children, Xander and Indiana. He played junior football for Sorrento-Duncraig, part of the Subiaco junior district.

Statistics
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
2009Brisbane Lions10 241417245170415711060.60.710.27.117.33.04.46
2010Brisbane Lions10 22614237189426611030.30.610.88.619.42.84.72
2011Brisbane Lions10 16141219810930742760.90.812.46.819.22.64.80
2012Brisbane Lions10 20201326916543473651.00.713.58.321.73.73.38
2013Brisbane Lions10 1613916613029627450.80.610.48.118.51.72.85
2014Brisbane Lions10 30124234711800.38.07.715.73.72.70
2015Brisbane Lions10 219824016840857670.40.411.48.019.42.73.23
2016Brisbane Lions10 2117825615641267930.80.412.27.419.63.24.40
2017Brisbane Lions10 2281132214746981350.40.514.66.721.33.71.64
2018Brisbane Lions10 181421913335268420.00.212.17.319.53.72.30
2019Brisbane Lions10 2444432108540137480.10.118.04.522.55.72.00
2020[lower-alpha 1]Brisbane Lions10 15422183925774190.20.114.52.617.14.91.22
2021Brisbane Lions10 24310514†110624137420.10.421.4†4.626.05.71.86
2022Brisbane Lions10 221340410450899350.00.118.44.723.14.51.60
2023Brisbane Lions10 720113241373820.30.016.13.419.65.40.31
Career[12] 27511611638571774563110437860.40.414.06.520.53.82.937

Notes

  1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

References
  1. "Lions hit draft jackpot by getting Rich". The Age website. 29 November 2008. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  2. "Eagles still undecided on Rich, Naitanui". Sydney Morning Herald website. 28 October 2008. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  3. "NAB AFL Rising Star: Rd 1". Australian Football League website. 31 March 2009. Archived from the original on 1 April 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  4. Brisbane Lions confirm ACL injury for Daniel Rich, The Age, 7 April 2014
  5. [https://www.afl.com.au/news/670638/all-australian-team-2021/amp ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM: Dees dominate, 11 new faces, first-time captain], 26 August 2021
  6. [https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/brisbane-lions-rocked-as-jack-gunston-and-daniel-rich-stand-down-from-afl-selection-indefinitely-c-10983956.amp Brisbane Lions rocked as Jack Gunston and Daniel Rich stand down from AFL selection indefinitely], 15 June 2023
  7. Daniel Rich Announces Retirement, 4 September 2023
  8. The 2023 Toyota Grand Final Team, 28 September 2023
  9. "'Who does that?!' Lions' dream GF build-up, Fev bombs into Yarra in wild Longest Kick". Fox Sports. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  10. Longest Kick 2023: Daniel Rich claims CHAOTIC victory as Fevola ends up in Yarra!? | Fox Footy, retrieved 1 October 2023
  11. Kick Ons Episode 26: Daniel Rich, 13 September 2023
  12. "AFL Tables - Daniel Rich - Stats - Statistics".
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