While he didn’t break into the senior side, Xavier Richards believes his 2014 season was an important year of development.

The 21-year-old, who played one senior game in 2013, continued his rise as one of the club’s up-and-coming key defensive players, and played an important role in the Swans reserves backline during the season.

Richards’ improvement was rewarded with a contract extension and promotion to the senior list late in the year, which will see him remain at the club until the end of 2016.

Speaking to SwansTV, Richards said he took plenty of confidence out of his 2014 season.

How did you see your season in 2014?

On the season as a whole, it was just another year of my football apprenticeship. Unfortunately I couldn’t crack into the seniors, but I still saw it as a developmental year, so I’m looking forward to setting up a good season next year and hopefully cracking into the senior side.

You received a contract extension late this season, so clearly the club has been impressed with what you achieved. What goals did you set yourself this season and did you achieve them?

There were certain goals in my running during pre-season and in the weights room and putting on size, and there were little things I focused on over the year with my game. I couldn’t point out one, but there were little things I worked on over the year that I kept on adding and wanting to improve on in my game.

You played an important role as a key defender in the reserves, and did have some tough tasks on players who had AFL experience. How did you find that?

I was really happy with my year as a lock-down defender. It was good to get a few scalps and I was happy with some of my games, but obviously there are areas and some lapses over the year that I want to focus on and improve on next year.

You did keep some of the NEAFL’s leading goal scorers goalless this year, including a great performance against the NT Thunder in the lead up to the Grand Final. You must be proud of those achievements?

Yes, I can definitely take confidence out of that, but I know I’ve got a long way to go. I will take confidence out of that going into next year, and I’ll know what I need to improve on.

You’ve obviously got a great mentor at your disposal in your brother Ted, but who else has been helping to set you on the right track?

My official mentor at the club is Heath Grundy and he’s been really influential for me as well with Ted. Jared Crouch, my development coach, has been great and of course John Longmire has been great along the way as well.

What do you think you need to do to get another senior opportunity?


That’s a tough question. I couldn’t pick out one thing, but I think just being dependable 100 per cent of the time and not having any lapses would help.

Finally, what are you plans for the off-season?

I’m going to Thailand with the younger boys and then I’ll just be hanging around home in Melbourne.