Richmond’s practice match against Hawthorn at Devonport this Saturday will not be the first time the two teams have met in the northern Tasmanian city.

On February 19, 2000, the Tigers, under new coach Danny Frawley, defeated the Hawks by five points in a thrilling finish at Devonport Oval – 13.11 (89) def Hawthorn 12.12 (84). 

Tiger veteran and proud Tasmanian Brendon Gale, now a three-time premiership CEO of the Club, was the star of the pre-season clash, as The Age newspaper reported . . .

“Brendon Gale showed he was not ready to be downgraded from being one of the AFL’s top ruckmen during Richmond’s 13.11 (89) to 12.12 (84) practice match win over Hawthorn in Devonport yesterday.

Gale has not been spared by Richmond coach Danny Frawley during a heavy pre-season but showed the work has paid off.

In front of 7000 fans at the Devonport Oval, many from Gale’s home town of Burnie, the 30-year-old obeyed Frawley’s wishes to push forward and it proved a match winner.

Besides dominating the ruck, Gale kicked two goals – the last bringing the Tigers within a point of Hawthorn in the final quarter.

A goal by Tiger defender Aaron James then sealed the five point win.

“When you get older you’ve got to get lighter and fitter and the way Brendon is going it encourages us to think he has two or three years left in him,” Frawley said.

“If you don’t have six players kicking more than 20 goals for the season you won’t make the finals and we won’t win games with Brendon Gale dropping back in defence.”

Gale jarred his knee late in the last quarter and will miss next week’s practice match but should be fit for the round one match against Melbourne at the MCG on 8 March.”