Advantage of the glove: Richo

After breaking his wrist in round 9, 2006, Matthew Richardson returned a month later and struggled to clunk marks like usual.

Richardson felt he lacked strength in his hand and decided to wear a glove, which he said he’d never do because he always backed his marking ability.

The glove certainly helped.

‘I wore a glove and immediately I felt that it was giving me a bit of an advantage in marking situations,’ Ricahrdson told Sports Today.

‘One grab marking I felt was better… I wore it for the rest of my career.’

‘They do give you a lot of grip.’

The stats from Richardson’s return to AFL without a glove compared to when he started wearing it prove that it helped the Tiger champion’s confidence.

In the three weeks after he returned, whilst not wearing a glove, Richardson took a total of 11 marks, he had 23 disposals and kicked 2 goals.

When Richardson put the glove on, the next three weeks stats are telling. 33 marks, 56 disposals and 12 goals.

As soon as he had his confidence again, the superstar was back.

Travis Cloke was today fined $1500 for wearing a glove which wasn’t approved by the AFL.

Richardson understands why the AFL is wary about certain gloves being worn.

‘I haven’t absolutely no doubt that some of those gloves are definitely an advantage.’

Click PLAY to hear Richo on Sports Today