In a special summer series, Richmond Media is counting down the top 25 Tiger recruits from rival AFL clubs throughout the past five decades. Coming in at No. 20 is Josh Caddy.
Josh Caddy joined Richmond on the final day of the AFL’s 2016 trade period.
After playing 71 games and kicking 59 goals for Geelong during a four-year career from 2013-16, the strongly-built midfielder/forward was traded to the Tigers in exchange for pick 24 in that year’s national draft and a swap of later picks.
Caddy had started his AFL career with the fledgling Gold Coast Suns, playing 24 games and kicking 17 goals with them in a two-year career from 2011-12.
It was at Tigerland, though, where Caddy thrived and enjoyed terrific team success.
He provided the Tigers team with good service from 2017 until his retirement midway through the 2022 season.
His 2017 Yellow and Black debut season coincided with the Club breaking the longest premiership drought in its history (37 years).
Caddy played 22 games that season, predominantly as a forward, averaging 17.3 disposals, 4.2 marks, 5.3 score involvements and kicking 21 goals.
In the glorious Grand Final triumph over Adelaide, Caddy finished with 12 disposals, eight contested possessions, five marks, three inside-50s, one goal, six score involvements, three tackles and 210 metres gained.
Caddy took his own game to an even higher level the following season. He kicked 46 goals in 2018, made the All-Australian squad and finished 10th in the Jack Dyer Medal.
After a delayed start to the 2019 season due to injury, Caddy resumed his role up forward for Richmond. Late in the season, however, he took on a new assignment within the team as a wingman, and that’s where he was on Grand Final day when the Tigers crushed Greater Western Sydney by 89 points.
With 19 disposals, nine contested possessions, eight marks, five intercepts, six inside-50s, three clearances, two goal assists, four score involvements, six tackles and 414 metres gained, Caddy was a valuable contributor in his second Richmond premiership team.
All-up, Caddy played 79 games and kicked 88 goals in his six-season stint with the Tigers.
As Richmond’s General Manager of Football Talent Blair Hartley said when Caddy announced his playing retirement: “His skillset made us a better team throughout a successful time for our Club.”
