Mature-age Richmond recruit Robbie Tarrant has been handed what ranks as the most successful number for a player transferring from a rival AFL/VFL club in Tigerland’s history.
The No. 6 guernsey, which the veteran star key defender will wear in his first season at Punt Road, was previously the property of two top-class Tiger premiership players – Paul Sproule and Shaun Grigg.
Sproule, who had played in Essendon’s 1968 Grand Final loss to Carlton (60 games all-up with the Bombers) subsequently was traded to Richmond, and he went on to provide the Tigers with tremendous value.
The highly-skilled on-baller played 86 games from 1972-75, kicked 93 goals, and was a key member of Richmond’s 1973-74 premiership sides.
He was one of the team’s best players in both Grand Final wins, as well as the defeat in the 1972 premiership-decider.
Grigg, traded to the Tigers at the end of the 2010 season by Carlton (43 games, with the Blues) ended up playing the most games in the No. 6 Yellow and Black guernsey – 171, from 2011-19, including the Club’s drought-breaking 2017 Grand Final triumph.
He showcased his valuable versatility that season by providing important ruck relief for the team, despite being undersized for the role at 191 cm tall.
There are only two other guernsey numbers that have each been worn by two Richmond premiership players recruited from other league clubs.
Former Footscray captain and classy centreman (151 games for the Bulldogs) David Thorpe took the No. 14 guernsey upon arrival at Tigerland.
Thorpe played 27 game and kicked 24 goals in his career with Richmond from 1974-76 and was a member of the Club’s ’74 premiership side.
Bachar Houli received the Tigers’ No. 14 guernsey following a 26-game career at Essendon.
The gun rebounding defender went on to have a stellar decade-long career with Richmond (2011-21) – 206 games, an All-Australian blazer, three premiership medals (2017, 2019, 2020) and runner-up in two Norm Smith Medals (2017, 2019).
Barry Rowlings, a quick, slick, left-foot midfielder had been a member of Hawthorn’s 1976 premiership team (82 games all-up with the Hawks) before joining Richmond.
He was given the Tigers’ No. 22 guernsey and wore it with distinction in 152 games from 1979-86, including the 1980 Grand Final demolition of Collingwood.
Rowlings won the Jack Dyer Medal in his debut season with Richmond and captained the Club from 1983-84.
Three decades later, Josh Caddy donned the No. 22 guernsey for the Tigers after playing stints at Gold Coast (24 games) and Geelong (71 games).
The strongly-built utility is now a dual Richmond premiership player (2017, 2019), with 77 games and 88 goals to his credit at Tigerland.
