Richmond has bolstered its coaching department and VFL program in 2014 with the appointment of former St Kilda and Gold Coast midfielder Andrew McQualter.

The 27-year-old, who played in three Grand Finals for the Saints (including the 2010 GF replay against Collingwood) in an 89-game career with them, will take on a development coaching role at Tigerland, working under Senior Development Coach, Mark Williams.

“As a player Andrew displayed strong leadership, outstanding communication skills, resilience and great football game sense.  It is these qualities we feel will make him an outstanding development coach and we welcome him to the Richmond Football Club,” said Richmond’s General Manager of Football, Dan Richardson.

McQualter started his AFL career in 2005 after being selected by St Kilda at pick 17 overall in the 2004 National Draft.

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He was delisted by the Saints at the end of the 2007 season, having played just 23 games, but was subsequently redrafted by them on to their rookie list.

From there, McQualter developed into a valuable tagger for St Kilda.  He was promoted back on to the club’s primary list at the end of 2008, and then went on to play in the Saints’ 2009 Grand Final clash with Geelong and their two 2010 premiership-deciders against the Magpies.

All-up, McQualter played in 10 finals at St Kilda, before being delisted at the end of the 2011 season.

He then was picked up by the Gold Coast Suns in the rookie list draft late that year and ended up playing five more AFL games with them.

This year, McQualter has combined a career as a real estate agent on the Gold Coast with playing for successful local club Southport.