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Recruit Zone: Rowlings a ripping Richmond recruit
In a series focusing on Richmond’s trade/draft history, we take a look at Barry Rowlings' successful move from Hawthorn at the end of 1978.
In a series focusing on Richmond’s trade/draft history, we take a look at Barry Rowlings' successful move from Hawthorn at the end of 1978.
Richmond originally attempted to recruit Barry Rowlings in the early 1970s, but missed out on getting him to Punt Road then, due to the fact he was playing for Moe, which was in Hawthorn’s country zone.
Rowlings, in fact, won five club and three competition Best and Fairest awards while he was with Moe, before joining the Hawks in 1975.
He quickly became a valuable contributor at Hawthorn, playing 72 games with the club, including the 1976 premiership win against North Melbourne, before departing the Hawks’ nest at the end of the 1978 season, following a serious knee injury.
Hawthorn felt he was finished as a player at the highest level because of his knee problems, but Richmond was confident that, even at age 28, he still had plenty to offer, and moved swiftly to sign him.
The Tigers finally had their man and, over the next eight seasons, Rowlings more than justified their faith in him.
Rowlings was a star from the outset at Tigerland, winning the Jack Dyer Medal, in his first season with the Club, finishing second in the Best and Fairest in 1982 and third in 1984.
In 1980, Rowlings was one of the pivotal players in the Tigers’ dominant season, which culminated with that thumping Grand Final victory over Collingwood.
He was a standout in his role as ruck-rover, with his breakaway speed and spearing, left-foot kicks providing plenty of opportunities for teammates further afield.
In 1983, following four seasons of consistently top-class football, Rowlings was rewarded for his efforts and consummate professionalism, with the Club’s captaincy - a role he was to carry out more than capably for the next couple of years.
Rowlings was just five days short of his 36th birthday, when he played his final game of league football, in Round 20 of the 1986 season.
He had given superb service to his adopted club, Richmond.
Tiger great, Dale Weightman, was only too happy to sing the praises of his popular 1980 premiership teammate...
“If ever I was struggling a bit getting to the footy, at training I used to run next to Barry, because he just worked and worked and worked,” Weightman said.
“‘Bazza’ was the ultimate professional. He did everything right, looked after himself and did all those type of things. Everyone loved him.
“He had excellent skills . . . he was a beautiful left-foot kick.
But he was also a bloody hard nut on the field, which is what we needed in those days.”
Barry Rowlings profile
Born: 21/8/1950
Height: 178cm
Playing weight: 77kg
Richmond trade history: Traded to the Tigers by Hawthorn at the end of 1979 for a transfer fee
Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 22
Debut at Richmond: Round 5, 1979 v Hawthorn, MCG
Games at Richmond (1979-1986): 152
Goals at Richmond: 117 Honors at Richmond: Member of 1980 premiership side, winner of 1979 Jack Dyer Medal, Club captain 1983-1984 Tigers’ Hall of Fame inductee (2015)
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