It started when Rob was coaching at Wangaratta Magpies and, fast track to 2017, not much has changed.

Joe and Nick are 17 and 18 now and playing for the Murray Bushrangers while Rob isn’t far away as one of the TAC Cup club’s under-16 coaches.

“Dad has been a huge influence for us,” Joe said.

“He got us both into footy.

“He drives us to be the best players we can.

“We first went down to the Maggies when he was coaching and he’s been a big help with the basics, positioning and all that stuff over the years.”

The Richards brothers played under 14 and 16s together at Norm Minns Oval and had a third grade match in the same team in 2015.

The pair are now a big part of Leon Higgins’ side.

“Nick is an elite runner and trains at a very high standard,” Higgins said.

“He kicks the ball well on both feet and is a very good mark for his size, using his speed and power in marking contests.

“Joe relies more on his footy smarts than his running ability although he is also a very good athlete.

“He’s more of a small forward who can play minutes in the midfield while Nick is the other way around.”

Although Nick spends the majority of his time up the ground, Joe says he hasn’t received any favours from his older brother when he charges into attack.

“Not really,” he said.

“He looks for other players mostly.”

Joe and Nick’s younger sister, Olivia, is a talented netballer with Wangaratta’s under-16s.

Despite 50 per cent of the Murray Bushrangers side being bottom-age players, Higgins’ side has comfortably beaten Bendigo and Gippsland in the opening two rounds.

It will get tougher against Geelong Falcons at Bendigo this weekend.

“They are looking pretty strong,” he said.

“They are 2-0 as well.

“It’s been really good so far with the coaches creating a great environment.”

Albury’s Jackson Carmody will make his debut for the Bushrangers this weekend while Wodonga’s Hudson Garoni dropped out due to injury.

The Bushrangers team is:

B, S. Beasley, T. Boyd, K. Clarke; hb, L. Vandermeer, J. Butts, B. Paton; c, W.  Donaghey, N.  Richards, R. Bruce; hf, I. Wallace, D. Johnston, J. Richards; f, D. Smith, F. Bollinghaus, J. Wilson; foll, B. Kelly, H. Jones, A. Hicks; inter, A. Dang, M. Marriott, J. Carmody, B. McIntosh, J. Trotter, E. Smith. Emerg: 52. J. Schilg, 32. E. Dayman, 47. N. Amery. In: J. Carmody, J. Schilg, A. Dang, E. Dayman, D. Johnston, E. Smith, M. Marriott. Out: H. Garoni,  M. Walker,  D. Langlands,  J. Koschitzke.