As part of richmondfc.com.au’s special Jack Dyer tribute week, in the lead-up to his 100th birthday this Friday (November 15), Tony Greenberg presents 17 facts about the Tigers’ famous No. 17.

  1. He was born in Oakleigh on November 15, 1913.
  2. His full name is John Raymond Dyer.
  3. He moved to Yarra Junction as a young child with his family.
  4. He won scholarships to St. Ignatius College in Richmond and then De La Salle College in Malvern, due to his football ability.
  5. He received his grounding in football toughness playing for the Richmond Hill Mob in the Metropolitan Junior League.
  6. As a promising young player, he asked Richmond (who he was residentially tied to) for a clearance to Collingwood, in a bid to attract the Tigers' attention.  It worked.
  7. He joined Richmond in 1931 and made his senior debut with the Tigers as 19th man in Round 2 that season against North Melbourne, on the same day Doug Strang kicked a record 14 goals for the Club.
  8. He was originally portrayed as "Captain Blood" by “The Age” cartoonist of the day, John Ludlow, after the popular Errol Flynn pirate movie of the same name, because of his swashbuckling playing style.
  9. He was reported five times during his career, but suspended just once – a four-week penalty for striking the son of legendary Collingwood coach Jock McHale.
  10.  He missed Richmond's 1932 premiership victory over arch rival Carlton because of a serious knee injury.
  11.  He played in two Tiger premiership teams – 1934 and 1943.
  12.  He holds the record for most goals by a Richmond player in a final – nine against Essendon in the 1944 preliminary.
  13.  He finished his 312-game league career with a positive win/loss ratio against every league club, and a positive win/loss ratio in each of the 19 seasons he played.
  14.  He was a policeman in civilian life and later a milk bar proprietor and hotelier.
  15.  He once thought he's killed a Melbourne opponent with a brutal shirtfront.
  16.  Although he didn’t invent the drop punt, he is credited with having popularised basically the only kick that’s used in league football today.
  17.  He scored a goal (one of six for the match) with his last kick in league football, against Geelong in 1949.