Richard Osborne
Encyclopedia
Richard Osborne is a former Australian rules football
er who enjoyed a lengthy career in the VFL
/AFL
. He played a total of 283 games in 17 seasons, and played with four different clubs, as well as representing Victoria 7 times in interstate competition
.
Originally from Bulleen/Templestowe, he arrived at Fitzroy
and made his senior debut in 1982 as a 17 year old. Beginning in the forward line as an understudy to Bernie Quinlan
, he would go on to become Fitzroy's leading goalkicker five times, including four consecutive seasons between 1986 and 1989, with feats of 60 goals on each occasion. He was made captain in 1991 for one season.
At the end of the 1992 season, after 187 games and 411 goals with the Lions, Osborne indicated to Fitzroy that he wanted to leave, with a move to Essendon
the most likely result. Fitzroy delisted him however, and in the pre-season draft he went on to become the No.1 pick, and began a short-lived 16 game career at Sydney
. He suffered a severe head injury, being taken off the ground in an ambulance
, but surprisingly returned to the field just three weeks later. After just one season at the Swans, he moved to Footscray
in 1994.
In March 1994, during the pre-season, the Western Bulldogs released Osborne to let him participate in a NFL
trial in the United States
, however Osborne's trial was unsuccessful and he returned to Australia.
He played 51 games there, including winning the club leading goalkicker award in 1995.
At the end of 1996, Osborne changed clubs yet again, this time to Collingwood
, where he stayed from 1997 until 1998. He managed 29 games in the two seasons at his final club, playing in a different role, half-back, where for most of his career he had predominantly been a forward.
In 1997, he was a boundary rider
for the Seven Network
during the finals series, and continued that role until Seven lost the rights to AFL
coverage in 2001. In 1998, Osborne released his autobiography, Ossie Rules, co-written with Michael Hyde.
On 6 November, 2009, it was announced he would coach the Monash Gryphons in Division 4 of the Victorian Amateur Football Association
(VAFA) in 2010. He coached the side to a near perfect 15-1 season and the clubs first ever premiership and promotion to Division 3.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who enjoyed a lengthy career in the VFL
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
/AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. He played a total of 283 games in 17 seasons, and played with four different clubs, as well as representing Victoria 7 times in interstate competition
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
.
Originally from Bulleen/Templestowe, he arrived at Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
and made his senior debut in 1982 as a 17 year old. Beginning in the forward line as an understudy to Bernie Quinlan
Bernie Quinlan
Bernie Quinlan , was a former Australian rules footballer and coach, who enjoyed a lengthy career with Footscray and Fitzroy in the VFL. He played 366 league games in total.- Playing career :...
, he would go on to become Fitzroy's leading goalkicker five times, including four consecutive seasons between 1986 and 1989, with feats of 60 goals on each occasion. He was made captain in 1991 for one season.
At the end of the 1992 season, after 187 games and 411 goals with the Lions, Osborne indicated to Fitzroy that he wanted to leave, with a move to Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
the most likely result. Fitzroy delisted him however, and in the pre-season draft he went on to become the No.1 pick, and began a short-lived 16 game career at Sydney
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
. He suffered a severe head injury, being taken off the ground in an ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
, but surprisingly returned to the field just three weeks later. After just one season at the Swans, he moved to Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
in 1994.
In March 1994, during the pre-season, the Western Bulldogs released Osborne to let him participate in a NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
trial in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, however Osborne's trial was unsuccessful and he returned to Australia.
He played 51 games there, including winning the club leading goalkicker award in 1995.
At the end of 1996, Osborne changed clubs yet again, this time to Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, where he stayed from 1997 until 1998. He managed 29 games in the two seasons at his final club, playing in a different role, half-back, where for most of his career he had predominantly been a forward.
In 1997, he was a boundary rider
Boundary rider
A boundary rider is a term used in the Australian Football League as well as other field sports to denote a commentator who works from the sidelines of the field or 'boundary'...
for the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
during the finals series, and continued that role until Seven lost the rights to AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
coverage in 2001. In 1998, Osborne released his autobiography, Ossie Rules, co-written with Michael Hyde.
On 6 November, 2009, it was announced he would coach the Monash Gryphons in Division 4 of the Victorian Amateur Football Association
Victorian Amateur Football Association
The Victorian Amateur Football Association is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia consisting purely of amateur players. Unlike the Victorian Football League and the VFL/AFL, the VAFA has always been strictly a purely amateur league and has affiliations with both AFL Victoria...
(VAFA) in 2010. He coached the side to a near perfect 15-1 season and the clubs first ever premiership and promotion to Division 3.