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Josh Caddy
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Josh Caddy
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Joshua Nicholas Caddy (born 28 September 1992) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who last played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Gold Coast Football Club from 2011 to 2012, and the Geelong Football Club from 2013 to 2016. Caddy was drafted by Gold Coast with the seventh selection in the 2010 AFL draft after captaining underage football with the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup. He was a premiership player with Richmond in both 2017 and 2019.

Key Information

Junior football

[edit]

Caddy played junior football with Eltham in the Diamond Valley Football League before joining the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup.[2] He played a handful of matches for the Knights in 2009 and went to be captain the club in 13 matches in the 2010 season.[3][4] He placed second in the club's best and fairest that year.[5] During this time he formed a friendship with Knights teammate and eventual Gold Coast and Richmond teammate, Dion Prestia.[4]

In 2010 Caddy represented the Victorian Metropolitan side at the AFL Under 18 Championships after having previously done the same at under 16 level.[6] He played three matches for the tournament, recording averages of 23.7 disposals and 3.3 marks per game.[7] He was awarded All-Australian selection for his stellar performances.[4]

AFL career

[edit]

Gold Coast (2011–2012)

[edit]

2011 season

[edit]

Caddy was drafted by the Gold Coast Suns with the club's fourth selection and the seventh selection overall in the 2010 AFL draft.[8][9]

He suffered a navicular bone injury early in the year, and was held back from football duties until late into the club's inaugural season.[10] Caddy made his AFL debut in Round 23 that year, in a losing match against Melbourne at the MCG. He had 10 disposals, five marks and three tackles in the match.[11] He kicked his first career goal the next week, in his second career match and the Suns' last game of the season.[12]

At the conclusion of the season, it was reported that Caddy was seeking a trade to a Victorian-based club in order to be closer to his father, who was suffering a heart condition. He was linked to Essendon in October, after reports emerged that the club had offered Gold Coast a first-round draft selection and two contracted players (Josh Jenkins and one of Scott Gumbleton or Cale Hooker) in exchange for Caddy.[13][10] Despite AFL-led mediation conducted to help the clubs negotiate, no deal was ultimately struck, and Caddy remained at the Gold Coast after the annual trade period concluded.[13]

2012 season

[edit]
Caddy with Gold Coast in May 2012

2012 was a much better season for Caddy, playing in all 22 of the club's matches that year.[12] In the club's Round 15 loss to Geelong, he recorded 18 disposals and a team high three goals in the 14 point loss.[14] Despite his personal success, the poor form of the Suns meant Caddy did not play in his first AFL victory until his 17th career match, in Round 16 of the 2012 season.[12] In this match, Caddy won the weekly nomination for the 2012 AFL Rising Star award.[15] He finished the season ranked third at the club for total disposals (334), fourth for goals (15) and fifth for clearances (44).[16]

In September 2012, the Gold Coast Suns announced that Caddy was again requesting a trade to a Victorian based club.[17] Media reports at the time suggested Essendon were again seeking his services, this time along with St Kilda and Geelong.[18]

Geelong (2013–2016)

[edit]

2013 season

[edit]

In October 2012, Caddy was traded to Geelong in exchange for a third round and a first-round draft selection (which Geelong initially received for losing Gary Ablett Jr. to Gold Coast) in the upcoming 2012 AFL draft.[19]

Caddy faced a restricted pre-season in 2013, with ongoing recovery necessary for shoulder surgery that he underwent in September 2012.[20] Despite this, he was selected to make his Cats debut in the club's round 1 match against Hawthorn.[21] He played in just six of the club's first 12 AFL matches that season, before playing 11 straight including a losing qualifying final against Fremantle. Though he did not play in the club's semi-final match, he returned to the club's losing preliminary final team against eventual premiers Hawthorn. He finished the season having played 18 matches and kicking a total of 11 goals.[12]

2014 season

[edit]

Following an impressive close to 2013, Caddy won immediate selection into Geelong's AFL side for round 1, 2014.[22] Despite receiving an accidental kick to the face by teammate and captain Joel Selwood (and seven stitches as a result), Caddy recorded an impressive 20 disposals and a goal in the match.[23] He was named in Geelong's best players by AFL Media's report of the match.[24] After four consecutive matches at the top level, Caddy sustained a foot injury while training in late April.[25] Scans later revealed a serious break that would require eight weeks on the sidelines.[26] He returned to the side for a round 14 match-up with Gold Coast.[27] Caddy notched his 50th career game in round 17 that season.[27] He recorded a career best 12 tackles in the match.[28] Caddy played in all of the club's last 12 matches of the season including losing finals to Hawthorn and North Melbourne.[12] Caddy had a team high 26 disposals in the losing semi-final to North Melbourne.[29] He finished the season having played 16 matches and kicking 11 goals.[12]

2015 season

[edit]

Caddy started the season in Geelong's best-22 for the third straight season when he lined up against Hawthorn in round 1, 2015.[30] He was named in the Cats' best by AFL Media the following week, with a 20 disposal and 10 tackle effort against Fremantle in round 2.[31] The Australian Associated Press labelled Caddy's 20 disposal, two goal, round 10 performance as a continuation of "his emergence as a goal-kicking midfielder of real class."[32] He was labelled by 3AW's Matthew Lloyd as the Cats' second-best performer in the following weeks victory over Port Adelaide.[33] Despite an apparently strong season to that point, Caddy was ranked seventh in the league for fewest disposals per turnover (4.2) at the end of round 11.[34] In round 16, Caddy set career highs in disposals (37) and clearances (12) in the Cats' victory over the Western Bulldogs at Kardinia Park.[35][36] In the latter part of the season Caddy endured symptoms of knee tendinitis and was subbed out early in the club's round 21 match against St Kilda as a result.[37] He did not play another game that season, and finished the year with 19 games played, a then-career-best 16 goals and seventh place in the club's best-and-fairest tally.[12][38]

2016 season

[edit]

With the addition of Patrick Dangerfield in the previous years' off-season, Caddy was in line to play more time in the forward 50 for Geelong in 2016.[39] He started the season strongly, kicking three goals and recording 21 disposals and seven clearances in the club's round 1 win over Hawthorn.[40] Caddy suffered a medial ligament strain in Geelong's round 13 match with the Western Bulldogs.[41] He had played in each of the club's matches to that point, but was forced to sit-out nearly two months of senior football as a result of the injury.[12] He returned to the side in round 20, kicking 2 goals and gathering 19 disposals in the process.[42] Caddy played in his first career finals win in September 2016, in a qualifying final against Hawthorn. He finished the season having played 18 matches and kicking a career best 21 goals.[12] He was eighth at the club for disposals per game, seventh for total tackles and sixth for goals scored in season 2016.[43] Caddy was one of just ten players in the competition to record averages of 20 or more disposals and one goal per game on a minimum of five games played that season.[44]

When Richmond's Brett Deledio began seeking a trade to Geelong in October 2016, Caddy's name was circulated in media reports concerning the potential deal.[45][46][47] It was later revealed that Caddy's older brother Saul had run into former teammate and current Richmond CEO Brendon Gale in a chance encounter a month earlier and let slip of his younger brother's unrest at Geelong.[48] Richmond reportedly offered Caddy increased midfield playing time as an incentive to move clubs.[49] On 19 October, the day he himself had been traded to Richmond, former teammate Dion Prestia told journalists he had been in contact with Caddy in an attempt to lure him to the club.[50] Though a deal involving Deledio eventually fell through, Richmond persisted in its pursuit of Caddy until late into the trade period.[51]

Richmond (2017–2022)

[edit]

2017 season

[edit]
Caddy in the 2017 AFL Grand Final parade

Caddy was traded to Richmond on the final day of the trade period, in exchange for a second-round draft pick and a swap of later picks.[52][49]

He made his Richmond debut in the opening match of the 2017 season, a victory against Carlton at the MCG. He recorded 17 disposals and a goal in the round 1 match.[53] Caddy played his 100th career match in round 5's Anzac Day eve match against Melbourne. He had 21 disposals and 5 tackles in the match and kicked the match sealing goal late in the fourth quarter of Richmond's win. For the first time that season he was named among the club's best players for the match.[54] Prior to round 7 coach Damien Hardwick admitted to having played Caddy away from the ball too regularly, committing him to more midfield time in coming weeks.[55] He did well in the role that week, notching 20 disposals, three clearances, four tackles and a goal.[56] After pulling up sore from a training session Caddy was a late withdrawal from Richmond's round 9 match against the GWS Giants.[57] When full-forward teammate Jack Riewoldt sustained an eye injury, Caddy was called on to play as the team's focal point up forward. He kicked a goal in the first of these matches, before adding four more in the role against Hawthorn in round 20.[58] It was a season best performance for him, adding 28 disposals, nine marks and even missing a further four shots on goal.[59] He would not get a chance to repeat that performance though, suffering a hamstring strain early in the first quarter of the next week's match up against his old side Geelong.[60] He missed two games as a result, making his return with two goals in Richmond's winning qualifying final against Geelong.[61][62] From there Caddy and Richmond progressed to a preliminary final match-up with GWS, before a win saw them into a Grand Final against minor premiers Adelaide.[63] Caddy became a premiership player following that match, kicking Richmond's first goal in his side's 48 point victory.[64][65]

2018 season

[edit]
Caddy in August 2018

After featuring in each of Richmond's two pre-season matches as a forward with limited minutes in the midfield, Caddy began the 2018 season with three goals in round 1's season-opening win over Carlton.[66][67][12] He repeated the total the following week, but was also issued a one-match suspension for striking Adelaide's David Mackay in the face with a stray fist in a marking contest during the fourth quarter of that round 2 loss.[68] He made an immediate return to football in round 4, but was limited to just one game with hamstring soreness seeing him miss again in round 5.[69][70] Upon his return in round 6, Caddy kicked a then-equal career best four goals in a win over Collingwood and was named in AFL Media's team of the week.[71][72] He equaled that output in round 8 and went past it again with six goals in round 10.[73] Along with his goal tally, Caddy added 24 disposals and a game high seven tackles to earn the Ian Stewart Medal as best on ground in that win over St Kilda.[74] At the half-way point of the season Caddy was named in Fox Footy's mid-year All Australian squad and was named in the Herald Sun and AFL Media teams of 22 players.[75][76][77][78] To that point he ranked the number one most improved player in the league according to Champion Data's official player ratings.[48] He was also placed fourth in the league's goalkicking race with a total of 27 kicked over his nine matches, despite playing an analysed 61 per cent to 39 per cent split of forward and midfield minutes.[48] Caddy was held goalless in round 12's loss to Port Adelaide, the first such occasion since beginning a 17-game goalscoring streak in round 18 the previous season.[12] After kicking a total of eight goals across the next seven matches, Caddy returned to the major goalkickers list with four more in a win over Gold Coast in round 21.[12][79] He repeated that tally in round 22, leading 1116 SEN commentator Gary Lyon to call for his inclusion in that year's All-Australian team.[80][81] Caddy finished the home and away season having kicked a career-best 44 goals, earning him 10th place in the Coleman Medal race for the league's leading goalkicker.[82] For that, he was named in the preliminary squad of 40 players though ultimately went unselected in the final 2018 All-Australian team.[83] He was however, named in the forwardline of the AFL's Player Ratings seconds team for 2018.[84] After finishing the season as minor premiers, Caddy's side earned a home qualifying final against Hawthorn where he kicked two goals in the win.[85] He did however, attract two separate fines from the AFL's Match Review Officer for physical altercations and additionally issued a public apology for verbally abusing two of his opponents with derogatory ablest comments which were picked up on umpires' microphones and included in the television broadcast coverage of that match.[86][87] In the ensuing preliminary final, Caddy was held goalless and with an equal season-low 11 disposals when Richmond was eliminated with a shock loss to rivals Collingwood.[12][88][89] Caddy finished 2018 having played 22 matches and kicked 46 goals, earning 10th place in the Richmond club best and fairest award.[90]

2019 season

[edit]

Caddy underwent minor ankle surgery in the early weeks of the 2018/19 off-season, but started pre-season training on schedule in November.[91][92] During that period he was listed by the AFL's official statistical partner Champion Data as the 88th best player in the league.[93] In February he picked up some ankle soreness while training which was expected to see him miss two to three weeks of training.[94][95] That timeline was extended such that he missed both of the club's two pre-season matches in early and mid March.[96][97] Caddy made his return to football in the VFL in April, during the weekend of the AFL's round 3.[98][99] He was recalled to senior level the next week, where he contributed three goals in a win over Port Adelaide while playing as an inside midfielder and a forward in the absence of Dustin Martin.[100][101] The off-season acquisition of goalkicking tall forward Tom Lynch forced Caddy down the pecking order in the Richmond forward line, but despise long stretches in the midfield he remained a key goalkicker in the early part of the season while fellow forward Jack Riewoldt was out injured.[102][103][104] He kicked another two goals in round 5 before being named among Richmond's best players with 25 disposals and a goal in round 8's win over Fremantle.[105][106] Caddy kicked three goals as a forward the following week against Hawthorn.[107] In round 15 Caddy played his 150th AFL match, kicking one goal in the post-bye win over St Kilda.[108] He was left out of the side the following week due to an apparent leg injury but was forced to make a return to football through the VFL a week later.[109][110] Though Caddy impressed as an inside midfielder with two goals and 26 disposals in that match, he remained at the lower level for a further week in or order to trial a new role as a defensive wing.[111][112][113] A minor ankle injury sustained at training in the days following that match would further delay his return to senior football, though Caddy would eventually be recalled for round 20's match against Melbourne after just one week on the injury list and without playing another reserves-grade match.[114][115] Caddy held his spot at senior level over the final four weeks of the season, producing modest results in the role of defensive wing which he had trialed for one week at VFL level.[116] He kicked two goals in that position in the opening round of the finals, as Richmond had a 47-point qualifying final victory over the Brisbane Lions.[117][118] A fortnight later Caddy's output was quieter, producing an important five intercept possessions but also recording four turnovers from just 13 disposals in his side's preliminary final victory over Geelong.[119][120] AFL Media said Caddy "did a little bit of everything" in the grand final, collecting 19 disposals and applying a game-high 25 pressure acts along with six tackles as his side defeated Greater Western Sydney by 89 points and earned Caddy a second premiership in three years.[121] At year's end Caddy had played 18 matches and placed 20th in the club's best and fairest count.[122]

2020 season

[edit]

After a full and uninterrupted training program in the 2019/20 off-season, Caddy resumed his role on the wing with fine performances in the pre-season series including being named by AFL Media as among the club's best players in the first of those two matches.[123][124][125][126] He signed a new contract extension before the season proper began, committing to the club until the end of the 2022 season.[127][128] Caddy contributed 15 disposals to a round 1 win over Carlton when the season began, but under extraordinary conditions imposed on the league as a result of the rapid progression of the coronavirus pandemic into Australia.[129][130][131][132] In what the league planned would be the first of a reduced 17-round season, the match was played without crowds in attendance due to public health prohibitions on large gatherings and with quarter lengths reduced by one fifth in order to reduce the physical load on players who would be expected to play multiple matches with short breaks in the second half of the year.[133][134] Just three days later, the AFL Commission suspended the season after multiple states enforced quarantine conditions on their borders that effectively ruled out the possibility of continuing the season as planned.[135][136] After an 11-week hiatus, the season resumed without Caddy able to play, owing to a calf strain sustained while training in the days prior to Richmond's round 2 match.[137][138] He required just one week of rest however, returning with 13 disposals in a round 3 loss to Hawthorn.[139][140] Caddy struggled for form early in the season restart, attracting criticisms about his suitability to a wing role from media personalities Terry Wallace and Matthew Lloyd.[141] He suffered a minor gluteus strain mid-match against in round 5 but was able to play through it, before suffering a significant torn hamstring during round 7's win over North Melbourne.[142][143] Though club officials projected the injury would take three to four weeks to heal, Caddy beat expectations and returned to fitness in time to make a return for the club's round 11 match against Port Adelaide.[144][145][146] He could not hold his spot however, dropped back to reserves level following a poor performance that included giving up a 50-metre penalty that resulted in an opposition goal.[147][148] In place of the by-then cancelled VFL season, Caddy played in unofficial scratch matches against other clubs' reserves players in mid-August, before resurgent hamstring troubles ruled him out from match play at either level through early-September.[149][150][151] He made a return to reserves grade football in mid-September, before being recalled for a forward line role in place of the injured Tom Lynch in the final round of the AFL regular season.[152][153] Caddy kicked two goals in the win over Adelaide, but suffered a patella tendon injury midway through the match that left him in some doubt for the club's first round finals match-up with the Brisbane Lions.[154][155][156] Though he was ruled fit enough to be named as an emergency in all four matches, Caddy could not break into the senior side over the course of the finals series, sidelined while his teammates earned the club a third AFL premiership in four seasons.[157][158][159][160] Caddy finished the season having played just eight matches.[12]

Player profile

[edit]

Caddy was capable of playing in multiple positions including as a goal-scoring half-forward, a ball-winning inside midfielder and as a defensive wing.[116]

Statistics

[edit]

Updated to the end of round 23, 2022.[12]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
  #  
 Played in that season's 
premiership team
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2011 Gold Coast 42 2 2 0 20 6 26 9 7 1.0 0.0 10.0 3.0 13.0 4.5 3.5 0
2012 Gold Coast 28 22 15 6 184 150 334 80 56 0.7 0.3 8.4 6.8 15.2 3.6 2.5 0
2013 Geelong 23 18 11 13 150 118 268 51 53 0.6 0.7 8.3 6.6 14.9 2.8 2.9 0
2014 Geelong 23 16 11 9 121 146 267 52 64 0.7 0.6 7.6 9.1 16.7 3.3 4.0 2
2015 Geelong 23 19 16 17 200 188 388 70 106 0.8 0.9 10.5 9.9 20.4 3.7 5.6 6
2016 Geelong 23 18 21 14 161 203 364 61 71 1.2 0.8 8.9 11.3 20.2 3.4 3.9 0
2017# Richmond 22 22 21 22 225 155 380 92 68 1.0 1.0 10.2 7.0 17.3 4.2 3.1 3
2018 Richmond 22 22 46 15 216 147 363 80 69 2.1 0.7 9.8 6.7 16.5 3.6 3.1 6
2019# Richmond 22 18 17 9 178 116 294 64 60 0.9 0.5 9.9 6.4 16.3 3.6 3.3 0
2020[a] Richmond 22 8 2 2 56 44 100 32 14 0.3 0.3 7.0 5.5 12.5 4.0 1.8 0
2021 Richmond 22 9 2 5 68 45 113 36 11 0.2 0.6 7.6 5.0 12.6 4.0 1.2 0
2022 Richmond 22 0 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Career 174 164 112 1579 1318 2897 627 579 0.9 0.6 9.1 7.6 16.6 3.6 3.3 17

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with five fewer home & away season matches per team, and with the playing time of each match reduced by 20%.

Honours and achievements

[edit]

Team

Individual

Junior

Personal life

[edit]

Caddy is son to parents Joanne and Adrian. He spent his formative years in the north-eastern Melbourne suburb of Eltham.[3] He has two elder brothers, Saul and Jonathan and sister, Elisha.[3] Saul spent a period of time on Richmond's supplementary list in the late 1990s.[4] Caddy's nephew, Nate, plays for the Essendon Football Club.

Caddy is the grandson of former North Melbourne and St Kilda footballer John Reeves and a nephew of North Melbourne and Fitzroy player, Michael Reeves.[3] Josh is the first cousin of Hawthorn ruckman Ned Reeves.

He attended high school at both Marcellin College and Eltham College in Melbourne's north-east.[161][162]

He, along with teammates Dustin Martin, Reece Conca, Dion Prestia, Toby Nankervis and Anthony Miles, owns a small stake in racehorse Main Stage which ran in the 2017 spring racing carnival.[163]

Burglary prank

[edit]

Caddy and teammate Billie Smedts were embroiled in controversy in April 2013 as a result of an attempted prank gone wrong.[164] The pair were arrested at gunpoint by local police after they were spotted wearing balaclavas and attempting to enter a local house in the Geelong suburb of Kardinia Park.[165] They received a warning from police after it was revealed they were attempting to scare teammate Jackson Thurlow and had simply approached the wrong house.[166] A concerned neighbour had called police reporting an armed robbery when she saw the players knock on the door of the neighbouring property. The incident was resolved without further action by police or disciplinary action by the club.[166]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Josh Caddy

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Joshua Nicholas Caddy (born 28 September 1992) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played as a versatile midfielder and forward in the Australian Football League (AFL). Caddy was selected by the Gold Coast Suns with the seventh pick in the 2010 AFL National Draft after a standout junior career with the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup, where he earned All-Australian honours. He made his AFL debut for the Suns in 2011 and played 24 games over two seasons before being traded to the Cats at the end of 2012 in exchange for Gary Ablett's future first-round compensation pick and other selections. During his time at from 2013 to 2016, Caddy established himself as a key contributor, playing 71 games and kicking 59 goals while adapting to a more contested role in the midfield. In October 2016, he was traded to the Richmond Tigers for draft picks 24 and 64, joining the club ahead of the 2017 season. Caddy's most successful period came at Richmond, where he played 79 games and kicked 88 goals across five seasons, contributing significantly to the club's premiership successes in and 2019. His versatility allowed him to thrive in both forward and midfield positions, earning him a nomination for the 2018 and the Ian Stewart Medal for best on ground in a 2018 match against . Earlier in his career, he had been nominated for the 2012 award during his time at Gold Coast. In total, Caddy played 174 AFL games and scored 164 goals across his 11-year career before announcing his immediate in May 2022 at age 29, citing ongoing injuries as a factor. Following his AFL , Caddy returned to the sport, playing for the Royals Football Club in the Great Southern Football League from 2025. He accumulated 17 votes over his career and remains remembered for his physicality, contested ball-winning ability, and role in Richmond's dominant era.

Early life and junior career

Early life

Josh Caddy was born on 28 September 1992 in , a suburb in north-eastern , Victoria. He is the son of Joanne and Adrian Caddy, with his father known as a rugged country footballer during his playing days. Caddy's family has deep roots in Australian rules football, as he is the grandson of John Reeves, a ruckman who played 102 games for in the (VFL) from 1948 to 1955, including appearing in the 1950 Grand Final. He grew up in , where the sport was prominent in the local community, providing his initial exposure to through familial influences and neighborhood activities. This environment, combined with his relatives' involvement in the game—including his uncle Michael Reeves, who played 63 VFL games for and Fitzroy—instilled an early appreciation for the sport before his organized junior involvement.

Junior and representative football

Caddy began his organised football journey with the Eltham Football Club, competing in local junior leagues in Melbourne's northern suburbs. He progressed to the Northern Knights, representing the club in the TAC Cup, Victoria's premier under-18 statewide competition. In 2010, Caddy captained the Knights and emerged as a key performer, earning selection in the TAC Cup Team of the Year as a centre. That same year, as a bottom-age player, Caddy was selected for Vic Metro at the AFL Under-18 Championships, where he impressed with an average of 19 disposals and six tackles per game, securing All-Australian honours in the forward pocket position. His strong contested marking and midfield drive were highlighted during the carnival, contributing to Vic Metro's successful campaign. Caddy's junior exploits culminated in his selection as the No. 7 pick in the 2010 AFL National Draft by the , marking him as one of the expansion club's foundational talents. He further showcased his skills at the , winning the test with exceptional accuracy and speed.

AFL career

Gold Coast Suns (2011–2012)

Josh Caddy was selected by the Gold Coast Suns with the seventh pick in the 2010 AFL National Draft, joining the club as part of its inaugural intake ahead of the 2011 season. As an 18-year-old Victorian, he relocated to the Gold Coast to begin his professional career with the , facing the unique challenges of adapting to a new environment far from home while contributing to a squad building from scratch. was a notable hurdle for many young players on the Suns, including Caddy, who navigated the pressures of establishing an AFL presence in amid the team's steep learning curve. Caddy's AFL debut came in Round 23 of the 2011 season against at the , where he recorded 10 disposals, five marks, and three tackles in a 139-point loss, marking his entry into senior football at age 18 years and 334 days. However, foot and groin injuries significantly limited his rookie year, restricting him to just two games and two goals as the Suns finished with only three wins in their debut campaign. These setbacks, combined with the broader adaptation struggles of the expansion franchise—including consistent heavy defeats and the isolation of playing away from traditional football heartlands—tested Caddy's resilience early on. At season's end, he requested a trade back to Victoria to be closer to his family, particularly due to his father's heart condition requiring surgery, though the Suns retained him by refusing to meet Essendon's offer. In 2012, Caddy emerged as a more consistent performer, playing 22 games and kicking 15 goals for the Suns, who again struggled with only three victories amid 19 losses. He showed promising development as a versatile midfielder-forward, highlighted by a three-goal haul and 18 disposals in a Round 15 loss to , and earning a NAB nomination in Round 16 after a 15-disposal, one-goal effort in a narrow win over Richmond. Despite these individual bright spots, the team's ongoing challenges—marked by defensive frailties and the developmental pains of an inexperienced list—limited collective success, while Caddy continued to battle personal difficulties related to his family's situation. Over his two seasons with Gold Coast, he amassed 24 games and 17 goals. At the conclusion of the 2012 season, Caddy reiterated his trade request, driven primarily by a desire to return to Victoria to support his father through ongoing health issues. The Suns, valuing his potential, initially sought two first-round picks but ultimately agreed to a deal with , trading Caddy in exchange for Geelong's future first-round pick (which became pick 20 in 2013) and pick 55 in the . This move allowed Caddy to relocate closer to home while providing Gold Coast with valuable draft assets to bolster their young list.

Geelong Cats (2013–2016)

Josh Caddy joined the Geelong Cats via trade from the Gold Coast Suns during the 2012 AFL trade period, in exchange for Geelong's first-round draft pick and a third-round selection. As a highly touted young midfielder, Caddy quickly integrated into Geelong's competitive midfield rotation, benefiting from the club's established structure and earning a debut in round 1 of the 2013 season. His arrival was seen as a strategic addition to bolster the engine room, drawing on his prior experience at an expansion club to adapt to a finals-contending environment. In his debut season of 2013, Caddy played 18 games and kicked 11 goals, focusing on building consistency in a wing and half-forward role while averaging 14.9 disposals per match. He contributed to Geelong's strong campaign, which included a preliminary final appearance, by providing physicality and versatility in contested situations. The following year, , saw Caddy manage 16 games and 11 goals despite a pre-season that delayed his start; he demonstrated improved adaptability across midfield and forward positions, earning two votes for his efforts. Caddy's 2015 season marked a breakthrough, with 19 games and 16 goals, highlighted by a career-best performance of 37 disposals and 12 clearances against the in round 16, where he was named among Geelong's best players in a hard-fought victory. Averaging 20.4 disposals, he solidified his role as a key rotational , earning six Brownlow votes for the year. By 2016, Caddy reached new heights with 18 games and a career-high 21 goals, ranking eighth at the club for disposals per game and contributing significantly to , including a goal in the qualifying final win over Hawthorn and participation in the preliminary final loss to . Over his four seasons at , Caddy amassed 71 games and 59 goals, playing a pivotal role in the team's three preliminary final appearances, particularly in , before requesting a trade to Richmond at the end of the year to secure a more prominent midfield position.

Richmond Tigers (2017–2022)

Caddy was traded to the Richmond Tigers from on 19 October 2016 in exchange for Richmond's second-round draft pick (No. 24 overall). In the 2017 season, Caddy established himself as a versatile forward-midfielder, playing 22 games and kicking 21 goals while contributing to Richmond's drought-breaking premiership victory after 37 years without a flag. He featured in all three finals matches, including the Grand Final win over , where his pressure and positioning helped secure the Tigers' 89-point triumph. Caddy's form peaked across the 2018 and 2019 seasons, where he played a combined 40 games and kicked 63 goals, earning recognition as one of Richmond's key contributors during their successful campaign. In 2018, he won the club's award (Ian Stewart Medal) after a standout year that included 46 goals overall, though the Tigers fell short in the preliminary final. The following year, Caddy played a pivotal role in Richmond's second premiership in three seasons, appearing in the Grand Final victory over despite a reduced regular-season output due to minor niggles. The 2020 season was disrupted by the , resulting in a shortened 17-round draw and a hub-based format; Caddy managed 8 games and 2 goals amid the challenges. Caddy's final two seasons (2021–2022) were severely hampered by recurring injuries, including and calf problems, limiting him to 9 games and 2 goals in 2021, with no games in 2022. He last played in round 13 of 2021 and spent the remainder of his time sidelined, undergoing rehabilitation without returning to senior football. On 4 May 2022, Caddy announced his immediate retirement from the AFL after six seasons at Richmond, concluding a career that spanned 174 games and 164 goals across Gold Coast, , and Richmond. In reflections shared by club officials, Caddy highlighted the two premierships as the pinnacle of his achievements, crediting the team environment for his success in delivering Richmond's golden era.

Post-AFL career

Coaching at Port Melbourne Colts (2023)

Following his retirement from the AFL at the end of the 2022 season, Josh Caddy was appointed as the senior player-coach for the Port Melbourne Colts in the Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) in September 2022, ahead of the 2023 campaign. This dual role allowed Caddy to both lead the team on the field and guide it from the sidelines, drawing on his 174-game AFL career across three clubs, including two premierships with Richmond. The appointment marked Caddy's entry into coaching at the amateur level, with the club— which had finished seventh in Division 1 the previous year—aiming to leverage his experience to contend for finals. In his position, Caddy focused on player development, implementing strategies inspired by his time under elite coaches like at Richmond, and fostering team to instill greater professionalism. He emphasized building a structured environment for younger players while contributing as a key forward when playing, using his AFL-honed skills to mentor on aspects like contest work and decision-making. Caddy's prior involvement in Richmond's leadership group further supported his role in cultivating a cohesive team dynamic. Under Caddy's guidance, the Colts improved markedly in 2023, securing a fifth-place finish on the ladder and advancing to the preliminary final, where they fell to eventual premiers Cheltenham. His coaching contributed to notable comebacks during the home-and-away season, with players crediting his processes for boosting team resilience and performance. Although an injury sidelined Caddy for the finals series, his on-field presence earlier in the year— including strong performances in key wins—helped elevate the team's competitiveness. This one-season stint represented Caddy's initial foray into post-AFL football involvement.

St Arnaud (2024)

In April 2024, Caddy made a one-off appearance for St Arnaud in the North Central Football Netball League, playing against Birchip-Watchem as an eight-point player.

Playing for Royals (2025–present)

In June 2025, Josh Caddy announced his return to competitive football by signing with the Royals Football Club in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL), an Albany-based powerhouse in regional . The move came after Caddy relocated to Albany for a new role selling insurance with WFI, where he works under Royals coach Panizza, presenting a coincidental opportunity to play without financial compensation. Caddy made his debut for Royals on June 28, 2025, against North Albany, where he played as a deep forward and kicked three goals in a losing effort. As a 32-year-old with over 170 AFL games and two premierships, his recruitment injected significant star power into the team, boosting morale and drawing attention to the club amid their push for a top-four finish. Despite the addition, Royals struggled late in the season, with Denmark-Walpole's victory over them on August 25 ending their hopes, leaving the club outside the as Railways claimed the premiership. As of November 2025, Caddy's involvement with Royals remains active into the off-season, reflecting his ongoing desire to stay connected to the sport following his AFL retirement and prior coaching stint.

Career statistics and achievements

AFL statistics

Josh Caddy played 174 (AFL) games and kicked 164 goals across his career from 2011 to 2021. His club breakdowns were 24 games and 17 goals with Gold Coast, 71 games and 59 goals with , and 79 games and 88 goals with Richmond. Caddy's average disposals per game was 16.7 over his career, rising to 20.4 in his peak 2015 season with Geelong. His goal-kicking efficiency averaged 0.94 goals per game, highlighted by a career-high 46 goals in 22 games during the 2018 season. The following table summarizes his key seasonal statistics, including games played, goals, kicks, handballs, disposals, marks, and tackles.
YearTeamGamesGoalsKicksHandballsDisposalsMarksTackles
2011Gold Coast222062697
2012Gold Coast22151841503348056
201318111501182685153
201416111211462675264
2015191620018838870106
201618211612033646171
2017Richmond22212251553809268
2018Richmond22462161473638069
2019Richmond18171781162946460
2020Richmond8256451013216
2021Richmond9268451133611
Career1741641,5791,3192,898627581

Honours

Caddy achieved significant team success with the Richmond Tigers, winning AFL premierships in both 2017 and 2019. Caddy received individual recognition early in his AFL tenure as the nominee for round 16 in 2012 while playing for the Gold Coast Suns, ultimately finishing seventh in the overall award count. He accumulated 17 Brownlow Medal votes over his career. Later with Richmond, he was named an All-Australian nominee in 2018 after a standout season in which he kicked 46 goals and averaged 17.1 disposals per game. That year, he also won the Ian Stewart Medal for best on ground against St Kilda. That same year, Caddy placed 10th in the Richmond Football Club's best and fairest award, the Medal, with 45 votes.

Personal life

Family background

Josh Caddy was born to parents Joanne and Adrian Caddy in , where the family resided in the north-eastern suburb of during his formative years. Adrian, a former country-level footballer known for his on-ball prowess, provided early encouragement for Josh's sporting pursuits. In 2011, Adrian's ongoing heart condition significantly impacted the family's dynamics, prompting Caddy to request a from the Gold Coast Suns back to Victoria to remain closer to his parents and offer support during his father's health challenges. This medical situation underscored the close-knit nature of the Caddy household and directly influenced Caddy's career decisions at the time. Caddy hails from a football-oriented extended family; he is the grandson of John Reeves, a ruckman who played 102 games for and 8 for St Kilda in the from 1948 to 1956. His maternal uncle, Michael Reeves, also contributed to the family's sporting legacy, appearing in 63 VFL games as a defender for and Fitzroy, including in the 1986 preliminary final. Caddy has two elder brothers, Saul and Jonathan, and a sister, Elisha. Saul Caddy is a former premiership player at the local level who himself influenced Josh's early passion for the game through his achievements in community football. The siblings' shared interest in fostered a supportive environment during Caddy's relocation to the Gold Coast as a teenager in 2010, with his parents Joanne and Adrian adapting to the distance while maintaining close involvement in his development. This familial backing extended to his subsequent return to Victoria in 2013, easing the transition amid ongoing family health considerations.

2013 burglary prank

In April 2013, Geelong Cats midfielders Josh Caddy and Billie Smedts devised a prank targeting teammate Jackson Thurlow, intending to scare him at his new South apartment by simulating a . Wearing balaclavas, the pair mistakenly entered a neighboring apartment, where they briefly handled items including a PlayStation, alarming a female resident who promptly called emergency services. Police responded rapidly around 5 p.m., intercepting Caddy and Smedts in their vehicle at Kardinia Park training ground and detaining them for safety. Upon explanation, the officers issued official cautions to both players but pursued no formal charges, deeming the matter a misguided rather than criminal intent. Gary Bruce of highlighted the risks involved, noting the potential danger to officers and the players themselves from the escalating situation. Caddy publicly apologized for the incident, stating, "We thought it would be a bit of laugh to scare young Jackson Thurlow in his new house... Me and Billie are both disappointed that we scared people in the community." Smedts echoed the remorse, and Geelong Cats football manager Kevin Diggerson confirmed the club's internal handling, describing it as a "misunderstanding" with no ongoing repercussions. The episode drew media attention as an example of youthful folly among AFL players, with outlets like the labeling it a "case of " while emphasizing the lack of malice. The prank had no lasting legal consequences for , who faced no further incidents of this nature throughout his AFL career, and it has since been referenced in discussions of early off-field mishaps among emerging talents. continued to support Caddy's development, viewing the event as an isolated error in judgment during his rookie season.

References

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