When you search for how big is Alan Richardson, you’re probably looking for one of two men. Usually, people are thinking of the former Collingwood defender and St Kilda coach. Or, they’ve made a very common typo while trying to find out the stats of Reacher star Alan Ritchson. Honestly, the internet mixes them up constantly.
If you are talking about the Australian Rules Football (AFL) legend, he’s a solid presence. Richardson stands at 180 cm, which is about 5 feet 11 inches. During his playing days with the Magpies, he tipped the scales at roughly 83 kg (183 lbs). He wasn't a giant on the field, but he was built like a classic defender—compact, sturdy, and hard to move off the ball.
But let’s be real. Most people asking about a "big Alan" lately are actually curious about the guy playing Jack Reacher. That’s Alan Ritchson. If that’s who you’re after, the numbers are way more dramatic. We're talking about a man who stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs a massive 235 pounds. The difference between 180 cm and 191 cm is huge when you’re standing right in front of someone.
The Physicality of the AFL's Alan Richardson
Alan "Richo" Richardson made his name in the 90s. In the AFL, 180 cm is actually on the shorter side for a modern key defender, but Richardson played bigger than his height. He was a "workhorse" type. His size allowed him to be agile enough to follow smaller forwards while having enough core strength to handle the bash and crash of the goal square.
He played 114 games for Collingwood. If you look at his stats from the early 90s, he was consistently around that 83 kg mark. He had to be. Carrying too much weight in Aussie Rules kills your engines by the fourth quarter. It’s a game of running, not just raw bulk.
Breaking Down the Coaching Build
After hanging up the boots, Richardson moved into coaching. You might have seen him on the sidelines for St Kilda or Port Adelaide. He’s kept a relatively fit frame for a man in his late 50s. While he’s not "Reacher big," he still possesses that broad-shouldered "footballer" look that never really goes away.
Why Everyone Gets the Name Wrong
Google’s autocomplete is a funny thing. Because "Alan Richardson" is a common name in sports (there’s also a famous English cricketer by the same name who is 6 feet 2 inches), people often type it when they actually mean the American actor Alan Ritchson.
If you’re wondering how big the "Jack Reacher" guy is because you saw him throwing people through walls on Amazon Prime, here is the breakdown:
- Height: 6'3" (191 cm).
- Weight: 235 lbs (106 kg) for Season 1 of Reacher; he reportedly hit 240 lbs for Season 2.
- Chest Size: Approximately 45 inches.
- Waist: 34 inches.
It’s easy to see why the names get swapped. Both are Alans. Both are tall. But the AFL’s Alan Richardson is a professional athlete built for endurance and 360-degree contact, whereas Ritchson is built for maximum visual intimidation on screen.
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The Other Alan Richardson: The Cricketer
There is a third "big" Alan Richardson you should know about if you’re a sports trivia buff. This Alan was an English cricketer, a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played for Worcestershire and Middlesex.
He is actually the tallest of the "Richardsons." At 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm), he used that height to create awkward bounce for batsmen. Cricket is a game where height is a massive advantage for bowlers. Being over six feet allows for a higher release point, which basically makes the ball feel like it's coming from the clouds.
The Confusion with Anthony Richardson
To make things even more confusing for your search bar, there is a rising NFL star named Anthony Richardson. He’s the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. If you’re looking for a "big Richardson" in 2026, he’s probably the most physically gifted of the lot.
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Anthony Richardson is 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 244 pounds. He has a wingspan of nearly 6 feet 8 inches. He’s essentially a linebacker playing quarterback. If your search was about a Richardson who looks like he was carved out of granite and runs like a sprinter, that’s Anthony.
Does Size Actually Matter for Alan Richardson?
In the context of the AFL's Alan Richardson, size was a secondary tool to his footy IQ. He was a defender who understood angles. In the 1990s, if you weren't the biggest guy on the field, you had to be the smartest.
For the actor (Ritchson), size is everything. It's his brand. But for the Aussie coach, his "size" is more about his stature in the game. He’s a respected figure who has spent decades in the high-pressure environment of professional football.
Quick Comparison of the "Big Alans"
| Name | Role | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Richardson | AFL Player/Coach | 5'11" (180 cm) | 183 lbs (83 kg) |
| Alan Ritchson | Actor (Reacher) | 6'3" (191 cm) | 235 lbs (106 kg) |
| Alan Richardson | English Cricketer | 6'2" (188 cm) | Lean Athletic |
| Anthony Richardson | NFL Quarterback | 6'4" (193 cm) | 244 lbs (111 kg) |
What You Should Do Next
If you were looking for the AFL's Alan Richardson to settle a debate about his playing days, you now know he was a 180 cm defender. He wasn't the tallest on the team, but he was one of the toughest.
If you realize you actually meant the actor, you should check out his training routines—he gained 30 pounds of muscle in less than a year for his breakout role, which is a wild feat of human biology.
For those tracking the NFL, keep an eye on Anthony Richardson’s measurements. His wingspan and hand size are elite-level stats that scouts are still obsessed with.
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Basically, whether it's the cricket pitch, the MCG, or a Hollywood set, the "Alan Richardsons" of the world are a lot bigger than the average person on the street.