Richard Douglas

Richard Joseph Edwin Douglas (born 6 February 1987) is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by Adelaide with pick 16 in the 2005 national draft.

AFL career After impressing for in the SANFL, Douglas made his AFL debut in round 21 of 2006, his first season, against . He played two further games for the season, including a Qualifying Final. Douglas established himself in the side over the next two years, playing 13 games in 2007 and 22 of a possible 23 games in 2008. He returned to play the next match, although he was dropped from the side a few weeks later against . He played 18 games in 2009 in total. He relished the opportunity, winning the 2010 Malcolm Blight Medal (club best and fairest award) and the Coaches' Award in a standout year in which he played all 22 matches and also signed a new contract with the club.

After struggling to find consistency due to injuries in 2011 and early 2012, Douglas began to recapture his 2010 form towards the end of 2012. He signed a new three-year contract with Adelaide in June 2012, and played his 100th AFL match shortly after, in round 12 against . Douglas had one of his best years at the club in 2013, finishing runner-up in the Malcolm Blight Medal and being named in the preliminary All-Australian squad. He ranked third in the competition for inside 50s, eighth for goal assists, and was second at the club for disposals, marks and tackles. He missed another two matches early in the season due to suspension after concussing captain Callan Ward with a head-high bump, but he played every match for the remainder of 2014, averaging 22 disposals and starring in his 150th match against in round 18. but performed strongly when fit.

Douglas retired following Adelaide's 2019 season. He left the club with 246 games and a Malcolm Blight Medal.

Post-AFL career

Following his retirement in 2019, Douglas joined ahead of the 2020 SANFL season. Representing the Redlegs as vice-captain, he tied with Brad McKenzie for the Michael Taylor Medal, awarded to the best-and-fairest player at Norwood, as well as being selected in the league Team of the Year. He departed the club in 2021 following 46 SANFL games.

During these years, Douglas also had roles at St Peter's College as the director of football coaching, and head development coach at the Simon Black Academy.

Douglas returned to in 2023, holding two off-field positions. As senior men’s assistant coach and women's football operations and talent manager, he saw premierships for Glenelg's senior and reserves mens teams despite his short time at the club.

appointed Douglas as an AFL development coach ahead of the 2024 AFL season. As of 2026, he is the runner on match day for the Suns.

Douglas holds an advanced diploma in business and sport management.

Statistics Statistics are correct to end of the 2019 season 2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

246 164 143 2738 1762 4500 879 870 0.6 0.6 11.1 7.2 18.3 3.6 3.5 20