In the ninth of a special 12-part series on richmondfc.com.au, where we set about building the perfect Tiger, our focus turns to the most prolific ball-winners at Tigerland over the past half-century. Choose from these five Yellow and Black ball-magnets . . .
Kevin Bartlett – 403 games for Richmond, 1965-83. Averaged 22.76 disposals per game, with a career-high 44
What made Bartlett’s consistently high tally of disposals throughout his wonderful 19-year career at Richmond even more impressive was the fact he achieved it with such minimal use of handball! In the Tigers’ glorious 1973-74 back-to-back premiership years, KB was at the peak of his ball-magnet powers, as the team’s first rover. He averaged 29.2 disposals in 23 appearances during the ’73 season, but less than two handballs per game. The following year, he averaged 29.4 disposals, with his handball average creeping up to just over two per game. Bartlett superb reading of the play, great pace and enormous stamina, enabled him to rack up huge disposal numbers each week during the season, seemingly at will.
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Matthew Knights – 279 games for Richmond, 1998-02. Averaged 21.28 disposals per game, with a career-high 38
Knights was playing just his fifth game of league football, early in the 1989 season, when he first shot to prominence with his ball-winning capabilities. He gathered 29 disposals against reigning premier Hawthorn in an exciting sign of things to come from the smooth-moving, left-foot midfielder. The following year (1990), Knights averaged a highly-impressive 25 disposals per match, just twice slipping under 20 touches, on his way to an inaugural Jack Dyer Medal. Knights continued to provide the Tigers with considerable drive during the rest of his league career through his capacity to win plenty of ball.
Wayne Campbell – 297 games for Richmond, 1991-05. Averaged 23.32 disposals per game, with a career-high 41 (three times)
Campbell, like Knights, didn’t take long to exert his influence in the ball-winning department for the Tigers. He was in his second season, and playing game No. 25, when he amassed an amazing 41 disposals (and kicked four goals) in a brilliant midfield performance up against Carlton champion Craig Bradley. Campbell averaged 26.4 disposals in that 1992 season, picking up 30 touches or more on seven occasions. A fair indication of Campbell’s remarkable consistency as a ball-winner was the fact that he finished with the same total of disposals – 555 – three seasons in-a-row (1997-99).
Shane Tuck – 173 games for Richmond, 2004-13. Averaged 23.39 disposals per game, with a career-high 38
Tuck quickly became a fan favorite at Tigerland due to his simple see-ball, get-ball philosophy. In 2005, which was Tuck’s first full season of league football, he averaged 23.5 disposals and finished third in the Jack Dyer Medal. Three years later, the tough midfielder was runner-up in the Jack Dyer Medal, averaging 24.8 disposals per game. Tuck picked up 30 disposals or more in each of the last five matches that season. Then, in 2009, he averaged 27.5 disposals, with 20-plus touches in every game. For seven successive games (Round 8-14), Tuck had 30 disposals or more. When Tuck’s AFL career finished at the end of the 2013 season, he was lauded for the extremely valuable service he had provided the Tigers as a key, inside ball-winner.
Trent Cotchin – 131 games for Richmond, 2008-14. Averages 23.35 disposals per game, with a career-high 38 (three times)
The current-day Richmond captain had a steady rather than spectacular start to his league playing career, due to ankle problems, but by his fourth season, in 2011, was making a major impression in the ball-winning area. Cotchin averaged 24.1 disposals that season, with an equal career-high 38 touches coming against powerhouse team Geelong, en route to his first Jack Dyer Medal. The following year, Cotchin took his game to an even higher level, averaging 27.5 disposals, with 30 touches or more seven times, including the last four matches in-a-row. A second consecutive Jack Dyer Medal and equal runner-up finish in the Brownlow Medal was just reward for Cotchin’s efforts in season 2013. This year, Cotchin continued to shine through the midfield, averaging 25.9 disposals, with 30 touches or more on six occasions, and a third Jack Dyer Medal to wear around his neck at the end of it all.
THE PERFECT TIGER SO FAR:
Kicking
Marking
Handballing
Speed
Strength
Courage
Toughness
Determination
