In a special summer series, Richmond Media is counting down the top 25 Tiger recruits from rival AFL clubs throughout the past five decades. At No. 23, it’s Peter Welsh.
Peter Welsh started his league football career with Hawthorn after being recruited from Yinnar, a country town in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley.
Welsh played 79 senior games with the Hawks from 1973-78, including their 1975 Grand Final loss to North Melbourne.
After spending the 1979 season in the Hawthorn reserves, Welsh was traded to Richmond.
Initially, he played in a back pocket with the Tigers, but he was later used to considerable effect on a wing and half-forward flank.
It was in a tagging wingman’s role that Welsh is best remembered for throughout his time at Tigerland.
In an amazing rags-to-riches story during Richmond’s 1980 premiership year, Welsh was selected on the interchange bench for the Tigers’ reserve-grade team in the final home-and-away round of that season.
Just four weeks later, however, he was an important member of the senior Richmond side that crushed Collingwood by a then league record margin of 81 points in the 1980 Grand Final.
Welsh had regained his place in the line-up for the qualifying final clash with Carlton at Waverley Park and he proceeded to make every post a winner throughout that glorious September, being among the team’s best in triumphs over the Blues, Geelong and the Magpies.
Two years later, he played in Richmond’s 1982 Grand Final loss to Carlton.
“Woosha”, as he was affectionately known, thrived on the cut and thrust of league football. He was tough, spirited, aggressive, had an excellent team-first attitude, and was an extremely popular clubman at Punt Road.
The Tiger Army gave Woosha cult status during his 46-game career at the Club from 1980-84, such was their appreciation of the way he went about his football.
Sadly, Woosha passed away in July 2008 after a long battle with illness.
He is fondly remembered for the excellent contribution he made, both on and off the field, at his adopted league club.
