Richard Douglas Biography

Richard Douglas will join Gold Coast as a development coach in 2024.

Last year, Douglas was appointed in a dual role at SANFL club Glenelg, where he was senior assistant coach and also football operations and talent manager for the women's program.

Richard Douglas announces that he will retire from the Crows at the end of the 2019 season after a 14-year career with the club.

"The club's looking to go down another direction and need to get some youth into the list," he said.

Douglas, however, says he may be open to the option of playing a 15th season at another club.

"I understand there are some clubs out there that are looking for experienced players, so if they come to you and approach you and the fit's right, then you'd entertain it," he said.

Richard Douglas will be sidelined for two months after undergoing surgery to repair the syndesmosis on his right ankle that he injured in the fourth quarter of last the Crows' round one loss to Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval.

"Examination demonstrated sufficient instability to warrant surgical stabilisation," Crows science and medical services coordinator Steve Saunders said.

"Syndesmosis reconstruction and a wash out of the joint were completed to ensure best outcomes for Richard in the short and long term."

Adelaide names an extended seven-man leadership group to support new co-captains Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane in season 2019.

Josh Jenkins, Richard Douglas and Daniel Talia have been elevated into the leadership group, which also consists of last year's crop of Walker, Sloane, Tom Lynch and Matt Crouch.

"These guys were recognised by their peers because of the way they drive standards and live our values and behaviours, while training, playing and engaging in other activities around the club," Adelaide coach Don Pyke said.

"Importantly, they are quality young men away from football and they bring a diverse range of skills and qualities which will help drive our group forward."

Richard Douglas re-signs with Adelaide to play on with the Crows for a 14th season in 2019.

"I've always said being a one-club player is something that would be pretty special to me," Douglas said.

"I still feel I've got some good footy ahead of me and to be able to continue playing at the club I've called home for more than a decade is great."

Richard Douglas will miss Thursday night's Grand Final rematch against Richmond after the AFL Tribunal upheld his one-game ban for rough conduct against Bomber Zach Merrett.

The Crows' unsuccessful appeal will cost them a $10,000 penalty.

Adelaide will risk a $10,000 fine by challenging Richard Douglas' one-game suspension for a bump that left Essendon's Zach Merrett concussed.

"As a club, we feel like Richard was within the rules of what the game is," Crows midfielder David Mackay said.

"I wasn't privy to the conversations this morning about whether we challenge or not, but the club obviously feels it can make a strong case."

Zach Merrett takes no further part in Essendon's match against Adelaide following a heavy bump from Crow Richard Douglas.

Merrett left the field dazed and needing to be helped off by medical staff. Douglas was reported for rough conduct in the collision.

Richard Douglas says he will likely play a bigger role across half back in 2018, covering for injured teammate Brodie Smith while allowing recruit Bryce Gibbs to slot into the Crows' midfield.

"I've been working closely with the backs coaches, so I'm looking forward to building on that work and hopefully providing some run across half-back," Douglas said.

"We've got some good depth in the midfield, and with Brodie going down, there's a spot to be filled there. I feel like I can fill that role."

With injuries to Adelaide's midfield, Richard Douglas is ready to spend more time in the Crows' engine room until reinforcements arrive.

"I really enjoy the midfield. I’ve played there most of my career and I feel I play my best football there," Douglas said.

"With a few injuries that we've got, I've been forced to go through the midfield, which is fine.

"Hopefully through the year I can spend a bit more time down back and maybe rotate 50-50 between the midfield and the backline."

Adelaide captain Taylor Walker will continue to look to veteran duo Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas for guidance, despite the pair having been dropped from the Crows' leadership group.

"(Jacobs) and (Douglas) won't be in the leadership group this year, (but) I've told them both I'll still lean on them for their experience and knowledge," Walker said.

"Whether (Jacobs) likes it or not, I'll still be poaching him and annoying him for information.

"I'm sure he's disappointed, he's a proud guy, but I've got no doubt that (Jacobs) will still be (Jacobs) and continue on what he normally does."

Tex Walker is again named captain of the Crows for 2016.

Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas have also been added to Adelaide's leadership group for 2016.

Jacobs and Douglas join Walker, Rory Sloane, Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo and Daniel Talia in the leadership group following a player vote.

Richard Douglas will not play for the Crows against Richmond after undergoing emergency surgery to remove his appendix.

Richard Douglas signs a new three-year deal with Adelaide that will keep him at the club until the end of 2018.

"I have always admired players who have stayed true to one club, and this all but guarantees I am a Crow for life," Douglas said.

"Everyone at our club likes the direction in which we are heading and this playing group is yet to realise its full potential.

"We are desperately chasing team success and I want to do all I can to help."

Richard Douglas will miss up to six weeks after suffering a strain to his plantar fascia.

"It looks like he's got a strain to his plantar fascia, which is a ligament on the bottom of his foot," head of football David Noble said.

"Unfortunately that looks like it could be a 4-6 week injury."

Out-of-contract Richard Douglas says he has no intention of leaving Adelaide.

"Hopefully I'll just get a kick early on and put pen to paper early in the season," Douglas said.

"[I'm] happy to stay around and I like being in Adelaide and hopefully I can stay a part of it and get the ultimate success."

Daniel Talia has been promoted into the club's leadership group for the first time, replacing Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas.

Talia joins 2014 members Nathan van Berlo, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker and Scott Thompson in the six-man group to lead in 2015.

"Each member of the group possesses a unique leadership style and as a group they complement each other well," Adelaide coach Phil Walsh said.

"All of them have a strong presence and what is best for the team sits at the forefront of their minds."

Richard Douglas will play in his 150th game this week against the Magpies.

"Over the years games tick by … I didn't actually realise until last week that it was my 150th this week," Douglas said.

"When you start getting congratulated and get a few nice texts, you start to realise.

"Guys wish you well and you get a bit more attention than other weeks … we usually watch a bit of a highlights package of the guys who have a milestone games on the day before.

"I try and stay away from the lights and just focus on this week."

Richard Douglas has been hit with a two-game ban for engaging in rough conduct against Greater Western Sydney co-captain Callan Ward.

Douglas bumped an unsuspecting Ward with his shoulder during the second quarter of the Crows' win last Sunday on Adelaide Oval as the Giants' co-captain was chasing Adelaide's Brodie Smith.

The incident was referred directly to the Tribunal, leaving members Richard Loveridge, Emmett Dunne and Wayne Schimmelbusch to grade the incident that left Ward concussed and unable to take further part in the match.

GWS coach Leon Cameron says losing Callan Ward to concussion after a bump from Crow Richard Douglas was costly to his young side.

"We've got 19 players under 50 games, our average games is about 30 … to have one of your 100-game players go down half way through the second quarter was disappointing," Cameron said.

"It's obviously controversial, the bump, but from our point of view it was just disappointing to lose him considering that leadership we do need.

"Then you rely on a five-gamer, or a seven-gamer or a 31-game player to actually try and pick us up off the canvas when we started to lose control."

After suffering a serious groin injury, Richard Douglas credits a cricket box for his speedy return to the side.

I'll give Gray Nicolls a little plug, I used one of their trusted boxes that they use with cricket – it just gave me the peace of mind really that if I got hit there again it would be fine," Douglas said.

"The surgeon was only concerned that if I got another blow there it could be quite dangerous.

"Once I got that and cleared it with the AFL I was right to go."

Richard Douglas will miss at least a month of the AFL season after having surgery on a bleeding groin.

Douglas was hospitalised after suffering a knock to the groin during Adelaide's practice match win against Greater Western Sydney.

"Medical advice on this points to a six-week recovery period," Crows' football manager Phil Harper said in a statement.

"Richard will unfortunately miss the start of the season but as always, his health is our main priority. Importantly, he will make a full recovery."

Runner-up Crows best and fairest Richard Douglas says he is still improving as a player.

"I'm probably a little bit fitter and a bit stronger and probably a bit smarter as well," he said.

"[I'm trying to stay] involved in contests – you see a lot of the best players will get a possession and they're able to get a chain of two or three.

"Probably in the past I've got one possession and I've exited the contest maybe a bit quickly."

Rory Sloane wins his first Malcolm Blight Medal as the Crow's best and fairest, capping a sensational personal season for the 23-year-old who averaged a career high 24 disposals a game.

Sloane finished just three votes ahead of 2010 winner Richard Douglas and 11 clear of Patrick Dangerfield and Daniel Talia.

"It was a tough year for the club and you always want to help your teammates as much as you can and I'm glad I did that," Sloane said.

"I always thought 'Dougy' was going to win this for sure for the second time.

"I'm very humbled having the year I've had and receiving the gold jacket and Malcolm Blight Medal, but you want to help your team get to finals and that's purely my goal for next season."

Despite having a solid year personally, Richard Douglas believes the Crows must improve their mental toughness if they want to be a good side in 2014.

"We've got a lot of work to do, we've got to get mentally tougher, I think," Douglas said.

"We get in situations where we should win games, we play some good footy to get in those positions, but we seem to give up winning leads far too often.

"It's something we need to improve on throughout the summer and into next year."

Adelaide defender Matthew Jaensch and midfielder Richard Douglas have extended their contracts with the Crows.

"Richard has won a best-and-fairest but he is now entering the prime years of his football career, so we look forward to him continuing to being a key part of this new era under Brenton Sanderson," Adelaide football operations general manager Phil Harper said about Douglas.

Harper also expressed delight in securing the services of Jaensch.

"His pace and elite kicking skills make him an important member of our team, now and into the future," Harper said in a statement.

"We are very happy Matthew has re-committed to the team as we enter an exciting period for the club."

Rejuvenated Adelaide midfielder Richard Douglas is expecting to attract attention from opposition taggers in 2011 after winning the club's best and fairest award for 2010.

"You've got to work a bit harder and you need blokes to help you out, so it's a bit of a team role as well," Douglas said about dealing with a tag.

"There are good people to learn off around the club and you're always learning as you go. It's another challenge and it's probably the next step for me this year."

Adelaide midfielder Richard Douglas has been rewarded for his excellent season with the Malcolm Blight Medal for the club's best and fairest.

"I was on the fringe for a few years...with trade these days who knew what could happen," Douglas said.

"I knew it was a big year for me. I set some goals and am really happy to have achieved them."

Adelaide has re-signed midfielders Scott Thompson and Richard Douglas.

"The club is extremely pleased that Scott and Richard have re-committed to Adelaide, after both have show excellent form this season," Crows football manager Phil Harper said.

"They are quality young men who will form a key part of our midfield over the next few seasons."

Adelaide's Richard Douglas says he hopes to become a more permanent fixture in the Crows side this year and hopes to make the most of opportunities that have presented themselves with the club's mounting injury toll.

"With a few guys missing there's probably a bit of added responsibility," he said.

"It was pretty disappointing for me with the way it ended last year. I've trained hard over the pre-season and am taking a bit of a different approach this year."

Key Saints Justin Koschitzke and Zac Dawson are charged by the match review panel after physical clash with Crows.

Koschitzke was charged with striking Adelaide's Richard Douglas in Sunday's game, while Dawson was charged for a rough conduct offence against Crow Brad Symes.

Adelaide onballer Richard Douglas will be tested for swine flu after experiencing symptoms of the virus.

Douglas' housemate Tony Armstrong, who had been named an as emergency, was also ruled out of Sunday's match.

"As part of the process that everyone is going through at the moment, anyone that is living in the same quarters "- which in this case is Tony "- has to be kept out of harm's way," Crows football operations manager John Reid said on Saturday.