On the eve of announcing his retirement to the AFL world on Friday morning, veteran Swans defender Ted Richards sent Lance Franklin a text offering his jersey number – 25 – for next season and beyond.
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Prior to becoming Sydney teammates in 2014, Richards and Franklin enjoyed numerous tussles in the Hawthorn forward line, most notably their engaging battle in Sydney's 2012 grand final win.
As it turns out, Buddy has no interest in switching jumpers.
"He didn't reply to the text but the opportunity's still there for him," Richards said after announcing this season would be his last.
"There's a quote I like, I read it once about boxers, 'You're not great unless you've beaten someone better than yourself'.
"I'm not saying I'm great but the games you come off as a defender and you know you've probably beaten a forward that is genuinely better than yourself, I do get a lot of satisfaction from those games.
"I kept Bud goalless in 2012 once. I still derive a lot of satisfaction from that day."
That was round five in 2012. The Swans were victors in that game, lost the rematch in round 22, then won again when it counted in the grand final.
On that occasion Franklin booted three goals before Richards shrugged off an ankle injury to play a huge fourth quarter and set up Sydney's most recent premiership. Richards was duly named the All Australian centre half-back that season.
"He hurt his ankle really badly the week before in the prelim final," coach John Longmire said of his key defender.
"We were unsure whether Teddy would actually play that week but he put a lot of work and effort into getting his ankle right.
"He went in with absolutely no alibis. Not only was he able to play, he was able to play on one of the best players in the competition in one of the biggest games."
Longmire's cherished memory of that day sums Richards up perfectly.
He's always been a selfless performer, and Buddy is only one in a vast sea of AFL forwards who Richards has neutralised over the past 15 years.
He's proudly worn the number 25 with distinction at the Swans, but he's prouder still of the red and white emblazoned on the jersey he first pulled on in 2006 after being traded from Essendon.
Five years prior he was drafted to the Bombers, his first of 261 career games coming in 2002.
Whether he adds to that impressive tally before embarking on a new career in the finance world remains to be seen.
Injuries have restricted the 33-year-old to just eight senior appearances this year, and with finals drawing near Richards has been unable to force his way back into the AFL's best defence with the likes of Heath Grundy and Dane Rampe in All Australian form.
"I will try my best to make it hard for Horse [Longmire] and the match committee to not pick me each week," Richards said.
"We've got a lot of defenders playing really good football. From the club's perspective we've got a healthy competition for spots."
The Swans play Port Adelaide at the SCG this afternoon targeting a third-straight win and aiming to keep the blowtorch firmly blasted in the direction of second-placed Greater Western Sydney.
Longmire has stuck with the same squad responsible for demolishing Fremantle by 90 points on Sunday.
Ted Richards
DOB: January 11, 1983
Draft history: Pick 27, 2000 National Draft
AFL Debut: Round 2, 2002 v Richmond
Swans Debut: Round 1, 2006 v Essendon
AFL Games: 261
AFL Premiership: 2012
All Australian: 2012
Swans Most Improved: 2007
Swans Best Clubman: 2010
