Ted Richards is immensely proud of the shining list of achievements he compiled in Sydney Swans colours, but the newest addition to the club’s Hall of Fame says it’s “the little things” that make for the fondest memories.

Richards became the newest addition to the Swans’ hallowed honour roll at the 2020 Guernsey Presentation and Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, presented by Volkswagen, on Wednesday night.

Former Swans James Young, Terry Brain and Bernard Toohey were the first three men inducted into the Hall of Fame at the distinguished event at The Star.

When Richards set foot on the stage to receive his Hall of Fame certificate, recognition was paid to a man with 261 AFL games, a 2012 premiership medal and 2012 All Australian selection beside his name.

But the champion former defender says it’s not “the big-ticket items” in which he finds his greatest pride. 

“I’m very proud of the resume I was able to put together, but it’s not those big things that I’m most proud of. It’s the little things: the sacrifices that need to be made over the journey, the interstate wins, that feeling of satisfaction when you beat someone in a game or at training. So I look back on those sorts of things and not just the big-ticket items,” Richards said. 

“It’s an incredible honour to be a member of the Swans Hall of Fame. I only found out about this about half an ago before. I’m incredibly proud and to have my family here as a bit of a surprise is amazing. I didn’t know they were going to be here and being inducted into the Hall of Fame is an incredible honour.”

Richards enjoyed many of “the little things” with Heath Grundy, Nick Smith, Nick Malceski, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Rhyce Shaw, Martin Mattner and Alex Johnson, the seven former Sydney defenders who combined forces with Richards to form a near-unbreakable defence in the 2012 Grand Final. 

Formidable attacking weapons like Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead and Luke Breust pulled on a Hawthorn jumper at the MCG on that day, but Sydney’s defence held firm as the Swans clinched a sixth premiership cup.

Richards feels indebted to have played for a club blessed with fine characters.

“I’m incredibly lucky for two reasons, one of which is the people who played before me and established the club that it was by the time I had joined,” Richards said.

“Guys like Stuart Maxfield and Brett Kirk really put some things in place to create the Bloods culture.

“I’m also fortunate to have played alongside guys like Heath Grundy and Nick Smith, and of course I was fortunate to have the mentors that I did over the course of my career like Leo Barry and Craig Bolton.

“I’m very lucky in all different aspects of my career because I always bale to lean on people at the club at different times.”