In a special summer series, Richmond Media is counting down the top 25 Tiger recruits from rival AFL clubs throughout the past five decades. Michael Gale comes in at No. 21.

Michael Gale was part of what is generally regarded as the greatest trade deal ever orchestrated by Richmond.

After playing 105 games for Fitzroy from 1985-1993, Gale was traded to the Tigers, along with Lion teammates Paul Broderick and Matthew Dundas, in exchange for Richmond captain Jeff Hogg.

While Gale and Broderick went on to have flourishing playing careers at Tigerland, Hogg, hampered by injuries, had little impact with Fitzroy.

Gale was pleased to be united with his younger brother Brendon, who, at the time, was Richmond’s centre half-forward and relief ruckman.

Although considerably shorter than “Benny” Gale, “Butch” was strong overhead, as tough as teak, and he possessed enormous courage.

He played most of his football with the Tigers on a wing or half-back flank, where he used those physical attributes, along with fine running ability and efficient disposal, to great effect for the team.

Despite missing several games during his 1994 debut season at Richmond because of a hamstring injury, Gale was a significant contributor, as the Tigers mounted a serious finals challenge for the first time in a decade.

Richmond narrowly missed the finals in ’94, but the next year made it through to the preliminary final, with M. Gale again providing consistently solid value throughout.

What you saw was what you got with Michael Gale – tough, hard, uncompromising, no-frills football.

He added some important steel to the Tigers’ make-up and was a well-respected, likeable figure around the Club throughout his 91-game, five-season stint.

Further injury problems (broken collarbone and knee) hampered Gale along the way at Punt Road, however, through his admirable work ethic, he was able to shrug them off and produce his trademark robust, valuable, team-first football for the Tigers.