In a special summer series, Richmond Media is counting down the top 25 Tiger recruits from rival AFL clubs throughout the past five decades. Wayne Walsh comes in at No. 11

Wayne Walsh started his league football career with Richmond’s under 19s in 1965 after being recruited from suburban club Murrumbeena.

A wingman/half-back, Walsh worked his way up through the ranks at Tigerland and made his senior debut in 1968.

But a lack of opportunities, due to so much talent in Richmond’s playing ranks at the time, saw Walsh cleared to South Melbourne at the end of the ’68 season.

At South, he quickly established himself as a top-line player, winning Victorian State selection twice during his time there.

Midway through the 1972 season, however, Walsh had a big falling-out with legendary South Melbourne coach Norm Smith, and he was subsequently traded back to Richmond before the June 30 clearance deadline.

He provided the Tigers with good value for the rest of that ’72 season, playing 13 games for only one loss – unfortunately it was to Carlton in the Grand Final.

The following year, Walsh continued his strong form on a wing, where his pace, marking ability, long kicking, aggression, determination and toughness combined to make him a major asset for the Richmond side.

Walsh was one of the Tigers’ best in the 1973 Grand Final, as they gained sweet revenge against the Blues. He thrived on the intense pressure-cooker atmosphere of the premiership-decider, gathering 19 possessions, kicking a goal, and providing plenty of dash for the team from his wing.

Then, in 1974, when Richmond made it back-to-back flags, scoring a decisive victory over North Melbourne in the Grand Final, Walsh enhanced his reputation as a big-occasion performer with another quality display. He again won plenty of ball (19 disposals, one goal) and pumped it long into the Tigers’ forward line in trademark fashion.

Richmond ‘Immortal’, Kevin Bartlett, a teammate of Walsh’s during that period, was an unabashed fan of the dashing, blond wingman’s playing style . . .

“Wayne was a big-game player, who had a thumping kick, and he starred in the 1973 and ’74 finals series as a wingman,” Bartlett said.

“He was cheeky and very confident. He’d have a go at opponents using his quick wit.”

Walsh retired from league football at the end of the 1978 season, having extracted the maximum out of his ability.

Along the way, he’d made an excellent contribution to the success achieved by Richmond throughout the 1970s.