Richmond ruck great Michael Green is the Club’s inaugural ‘Coming Home Hero’.
The Tigers will pay a special tribute to their four-time premiership player and Team of the Century member during the pre-game build-up at Thursday night’s Round 2 blockbuster against arch-rival Carlton at the MCG.
Green, who played 146 games for Richmond in two stints – 1966-71 and 1973-75 – will walk from the centre of the ground to the Punt Road end, where he’ll receive due recognition from the Tiger Army.
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He will then proceed to kick a ceremonial goal, before signing the ball and handing it to a Richmond fan in the crowd.
Highlights of Green’s stellar career at Tigerland will be shown on the big screen during this time.
Green joined Richmond via the Club’s then metropolitan recruiting zone in the Waverley area.
He worked his way up through the ranks at the Club, starting off with the fourths in 1963, progressing through to the under 19s in 1964, and the reserves in 1965, before making his senior debut in 1966.
The following season, the then 19-year-old Green, was a member of Richmond’s drought-breaking 1967 premiership side, although he sat on the bench for the entire epic Grand Final encounter with Geelong.
By the time the next September door of opportunity opened up for Green – in 1969 – he had developed into one of the best ruckmen in the competition.
An outstanding ’69 finals series by Green was a major factor in the Tigers catapulting their way to the premiership after scraping into fourth place (it was a final four system back then) on the ladder at the end of the home-and-away rounds.
Green was voted Richmond’s best player in each of its three finals wins in 1969 (the first semi-final v Geelong, the preliminary final v Collingwood and the Grand Final v Carlton).
Renowned for his aerial strength, he ended up with 40 more marks than any other player in league football during the ’69 season.
Two years later, at the end of the 1971 season, Green announced his playing retirement, due to his work commitments as a solicitor and parental responsibilities with a young family.
That retirement was short-lived, however, with Green returning in 1973 and going on to play a key role in the Tigers’ premiership success against Carlton that season, and the following year’s Grand Final triumph over North Melbourne.
Green retired for good from league football at the end of the 1975 season, but he subsequently returned to the Club again in 1982-83, as reserves coach, before later serving on the Tigers’ committee and also having a stint as chairman of selectors.
The Michael Green Fact File
Born: 14/5/1948
Height: 193cm
Playing weight: 94.5kg
Junior playing career: Assumption College, Xavier College
Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 37
Senior games at Richmond (1966-71, 1973-75): 146
Goals: 83
Playing honors: Four-time Richmond premiership player (1967, 1969, 1973, 1974); member of the Tigers’ Team of the Century; inaugural Richmond Hall of Fame inductee
