The long-standing connection between Richmond and WAFL club South Fremantle has been further strengthened with the Tigers’ recruitment of promising, young utility player Steely Green in the 2022 AFL national draft.
Green, Richmond’s second draft pick (No. 55 overall), who played senior football with South Fremantle throughout 2022, joins an extensive list of Tiger-(WA) Bulldogs.
In recent years, the Tigers have secured the services of Shai Bolton, Marlion Pickett and Matthew Parker from South Fremantle.
Bolton and Pickett are both two-time Tiger premiership players, while Parker is now back at South Freo following a short stint at Punt Road.
Three other players recruited by Richmond from South Fremantle went on to be premiership players at the Club – Norm McIntosh 1921, Colin Beard 1969 and Bruce Monteath 1980 (captain).
Another of Richmond’s South Fremantle recruits – Maurice Rioli – was awarded the Norm Smith Medal for his brilliant exhibition in the Tigers’ 1982 Grand Final loss to Carlton. Rioli also won two Jack Dyer Medals during his time at Tigerland (1982 and 1983).
There’s been a host of other WA Bulldogs-turned Victorian Tigers, including 2001 Jack Dyer Medallist Darren Gaspar, Stevan Jackson, Stephen Jurica, Wayne Hernaman, Andrew Krakouer and Marty McGrath.
