After a well-documented position change in 2024, Ed Richards is relishing his first full pre-season as part of the Bulldogs’ midfield group.

The former defender’s positional shift has given him a new lease on footy—one that the 25-year-old has embraced wholeheartedly.

Averaging 21.4 disposals and 3.9 clearances, Richards firmly established himself in the midfield alongside seasoned players such as Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar and Tom Liberatore.

Richards’ stellar season was further recognised with a top-five finish in the 2024 Charles Sutton Medal.

With these achievements under his belt, Richards is focused on further developing his skills during the 2025 ASICS pre-season, enjoying the highly-contested match simulations.

“It’s been good fun,” Richards said.

“It’s been difficult and a lot of work.

“We’ve been putting a lot of effort into our contest work. We want to improve in that area this year, and I think everyone is really buying into the process. We’re having some great hit-outs.

“Everyone loves match practice.

“It’s always good to get that under your belt. It’s been really competitive—everyone is looking to crack in. There are only so many spots up for grabs, so everyone is putting their best foot forward, which is really promising.

“We’ve seen some players who’ve been really competitive and strong in there.”

The Bulldogs have bolstered their midfield depth during the off-season, adding both youth and experience.

Richards was quick to highlight former Blue Matthew Kennedy, as well as 2024 draftees Luke Kennedy and Cooper Hynes, praising their seamless transition into life at the Kennel.

“They’ve been really good,” he said.

“(Matt Kennedy’s) obviously been a fantastic addition.

“He’s an absolute beast in the contest. It’s been great to see him cracking in, laying big tackles, and being really strong in the contest.

“The young boys as well—they’ve really stepped up.

“Both have shown great promise during their first pre-season.”

The Bulldogs’ program will intensify in the coming weeks as the 2025 season draws nearer.

A trip to Noosa for the pre-season camp is the next significant milestone in the team’s calendar, offering Richards and the midfield group an opportunity to build even further.

Despite ranking second in the league for total clearances and third for stoppage clearances, Richards is determined for the team to improve and establish themselves as leaders in these areas for 2025.

“We want to be a strong contested-possession team,” he said.

“We want to excel at clearances too. We’ve been good in the past, but it would be great to keep building on that.

“Getting fitter and stronger will be a big focus—it should be pretty fun as well.”