Graham Burgin is Richmond’s penultimate Homecoming Hero for the 2017 season.

The Tigers will pay tribute to the key member of their 1967 and 1969 premiership sides during the pre-game build-up at this Sunday afternoon’s Round 20 clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.

Burgin, who played 60 senior games with Richmond from 1965-71, will walk to the Punt Road end of the ground, where he’ll receive due recognition from the Tiger Army.

He’ll kick a ceremonial goal, then sign the football and present it to a Yellow and Black barracker in the crowd.

Highlights of Burgin’s playing career with the Tigers also will be shown on the MCG’s screens.

Burgin, a robust, determined, disciplined, dashing half-back, was recruited by Richmond from Melbourne suburban club Vermont.

He worked his way through the ranks at Tigerland during the 1965 season, starting off in the under 19s and moving up to the reserves, before making his senior league debut as 20^th man, at just 17 years, 62 days of age, in Round 8 against Fitzroy at the MCG.

Graham Burgin (left) with Mike Perry, Geoff Strang and Roger Dean.

There was only one more senior appearance for Burgin that year and just a further six the next season, however, in 1967, he established himself as a regular member of Richmond’s main line-up.

With his hardness at the contest, pace and long kicking out of the backline, Burgin became a pivotal player for the Club.

Throughout the Tigers’ drought-breaking ’67 premiership year, he formed an excellent partnership across their half-back line with Mike Perry (centre half-back) and Geoff Strang (the other half-back flank).

A series of injuries, unfortunately, hampered Burgin over the course of his career at Richmond, severely limiting the amount of senior football he was able to play.

Nevertheless, when he was available for action, he never let the Tigers down on the field of battle.

In 1969, Burgin’s first senior appearance for that season came in the final home-and-away round against Footscray at the MCG, following another long-term injury lay-off.

But he subsequently played, and excelled, in Richmond’s three finals, including the ’69 Grand Final triumph over Carlton.

After retiring as a player with Richmond, and then having brief playing stints at Kedron (Queensland) and Albury (NSW), Burgin returned to Punt Road in the early 1990 as the Tigers’ team manager.

He served the Club in that role for several years and was held in extremely high regard throughout by players and coaches alike.

Burgin was awarded Richmond life membership in 1993.

Graham Burgin profile

Born: 4/4/1948
Height: 187cm
Playing weight: 86kg
On-field position: Half-back
Recruited to Richmond from: Vermont
Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 27
Debut at Richmond: Round 8, 1965 v Fitzroy, MCG
Games at Richmond (1965-1971): 60
Goals at Richmond: 0

Here is a list of Richmond's Homecoming Heroes since 2014...