E ven Ted Richards was not surprised his milestone passed virtually unnoticed. No disputing it was an achievement, but it was hardly unique. And, that particular week, everything involving the Swans was swallowed up by a left hook by one of his teammates.

While Barry Hall was swatting Eagles down one end of ANZ Stadium in round four, Richards was at the other end playing his 50th match in the red and white. His achievement, though, is put in perspective by the fact Richards took five years to play just 33 matches at his first club, Essendon.

"I don't think it's a significant milestone these days in terms of the AFL because you've got guys playing 200 and 300 games," Richards said this week. "But for me, in my time in the game, it took me a long time to get to play 50 games of AFL footy, so to be able to play 50 games at the Swans is something I'm really proud of."

Richards hasn't glanced back since receiving two phone calls as he was sitting down to dinner in San Diego on an end-of-season trip with the Bombers in 2005. The first was from his manager letting him know a deal had been brokered and he was being traded to Sydney. The next, just minutes later, was a welcome-aboard call from Paul Roos, who just two weeks earlier had coached the Swans to a premiership.

Since then, Richards has gone from a player not sure whether he was worthy of being an AFL footballer to a mainstay of the Sydney senior team, having missed just two of 55 matches since joining the club.

Richards, 25, admits when he first arrived at the Swans he looked over his shoulder waiting to be told it was time to go back to the reserves.

"I had really struggled to string games together in the past, so early on when I first got to Sydney I almost felt that once I managed to play a couple of games in succession, it was a case of before I know it I'll be back in the twos," Richards said. "That was something I needed to change, my psychological mindset, and I just had to focus on the fact that if I'm playing good football, I'll earn my spot in the team each week. I spoke to Roosy about it - it wasn't anything major - and we sorted that out pretty quickly.

"Having only missed two games since I arrived is something to be proud of and it's a big reason why I've enjoyed the move to Sydney so much.

"When I was at Essendon, I just didn't know where I was at. I was trying to make my way into the team and I didn't know what spot I was going for and, then if I came in, I was just a bit of a 'bit player', and even if I got an opportunity, I might not get that much game time. It was all over the shop for me.

"There were times when there were doubts whether I really was going to make it as an AFL player, so when the opportunity came up for me to make a move, I really knew it was the right time and Sydney was the right place to do it."

After a solid first season highlighted by being among Sydney's best in their 2006 grand final loss, Richards continued his growth in 2007 and was rewarded by jointly winning the club's most improved award with ruckman Darren Jolly.

"It meant a real lot to me because of where I've come from and what I'm trying to achieve," he said. "I had made some significant steps and I was very proud to receive that award.

"Every week I go out there trying to give a consistent performance and do my role. I know it sounds pretty boring, but it's something at the Swans we all try to achieve, and when someone plays their role it's really respected."

Every player looks forward to shaping up against their former team. Usually it's an opportunity to prove someone wrong, and Richards gets his chance tomorrow afternoon at ANZ Stadium.

"Of course you look forward to playing against your old team, but I don't look on it as anything else other than just another game," Richards said. "We lost to them last year when we were in a similar situation. We were above them on the ladder, and we were favourites to beat them on our home ground, and they came over the top of us and that's something we're wary of this week. We don't want that to happen again."

While he may have some points to prove, Richards still has a lot of friends at the Bombers, including good mate Jobe Watson.

"I've known Jobe since I was in primary school, grade three or something like that at Sacred Hearts in Sandringham, we still keep in touch and we give each other a bit of crap once we get on the field," he said.

When it comes to gloating over a win, Watson has the edge. In three meetings since Richards made the switch, Watson has been the victor twice. Richards won't have the chance to square the ledger with Watson personally as the young Bomber is out injured.