Richard Ambrose
Encyclopedia
Richard Ambrose is a former Australian rules football
er who played with the Sydney Swans
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). He also played for Port Adelaide
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL) and Subiaco
in the West Australian Football League
(WAFL).
A key position player, Ambrose started his AFL career at Essendon
after being picked up by the club with the 21st selection of the 1990 AFL Draft
. He was however restricted to the reserves and was unable to break into the seniors over two seasons. He was one of three players that Essendon traded to Sydney at the end of 1992 in return for the 20th draft pick, which was used on Scott Cummings
. The others were Ed Considine
and Michael Werner
.
Ambrose, who hailed from Shepparton, finally made his league in 1993 when he was part of the Sydney team which took on the West Coast Eagles
at the SCG
. He played just two more games for the club, a win over Melbourne
and loss to Adelaide, both at home.
Leaving Sydney after just one season, Ambrose arrived at SANFL club Port Adelaide
in 1994 and played for five seasons without ever becoming a regular fixture in the team. He was, however, a member of Port's 1998 premiership team.
He moved to Subiaco in 1999 and by playing in the WAFL had distinction of being part of clubs from four different states
during the 1990s. At this stage the league was named the Westar Rules and he was the competition's best player in 2000 when he won the Sandover Medal
as a centre half forward. He polled 34 votes to beat teammate Michael Symons
and in doing so became the first ever forward from Subiaco to win the award. Ambrose participated in finals football every season he was at he club, culminating in a grand final loss in 2003 and premiership in 2004. He was a regular Western Australian interstate representative.
Ambrose signed with Corowa-Rutherglen
in 2005. He played for the Ovens and Murray Football League club until retiring after the 2008 season, although he made a comeback in 2009.
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 played with the Sydney Swans
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...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). He also played for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL) and Subiaco
Subiaco Football Club
The Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WAFL).
A key position player, Ambrose started his AFL career at Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
after being picked up by the club with the 21st selection of the 1990 AFL Draft
1990 AFL Draft
The 1990 AFL Draft was the 5th annual draft of Australian rules footballers to the 14 clubs in the Australian Football League. It consisted of the national draft held at the end of the 1990 season, the pre-season draft, held before 1991 AFL season and a mid-season draft.Clubs receive picks based...
. He was however restricted to the reserves and was unable to break into the seniors over two seasons. He was one of three players that Essendon traded to Sydney at the end of 1992 in return for the 20th draft pick, which was used on Scott Cummings
Scott Cummings
Scott Cummings is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon, Port Adelaide, the West Coast Eagles and Collingwood in the Australian Football League....
. The others were Ed Considine
Ed Considine
Ed Considine is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and Sydney in the Victorian/Australian Football League .Considine played his early football for St Joseph's and Strathmore...
and Michael Werner
Michael Werner
Michael Werner is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon and the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League ....
.
Ambrose, who hailed from Shepparton, finally made his league in 1993 when he was part of the Sydney team which took on the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
at the SCG
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
. He played just two more games for the club, a win over Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
and loss to Adelaide, both at home.
Leaving Sydney after just one season, Ambrose arrived at SANFL club Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
in 1994 and played for five seasons without ever becoming a regular fixture in the team. He was, however, a member of Port's 1998 premiership team.
He moved to Subiaco in 1999 and by playing in the WAFL had distinction of being part of clubs from four different states
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
during the 1990s. At this stage the league was named the Westar Rules and he was the competition's best player in 2000 when he won the Sandover Medal
Sandover Medal
The Sandover Medal is an Australian rules football award, given annually since 1921 to the fairest and best player in the West Australian Football League...
as a centre half forward. He polled 34 votes to beat teammate Michael Symons
Michael Symons
Michael Symons is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Australian Football League during the 1990s....
and in doing so became the first ever forward from Subiaco to win the award. Ambrose participated in finals football every season he was at he club, culminating in a grand final loss in 2003 and premiership in 2004. He was a regular Western Australian interstate representative.
Ambrose signed with Corowa-Rutherglen
Corowa Rutherglen Football Club
The Corowa Rutherglen Football Club, nicknamed the Kangaroos, is an Australian Rules Football club playing in the Ovens & Murray Football League....
in 2005. He played for the Ovens and Murray Football League club until retiring after the 2008 season, although he made a comeback in 2009.