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. 4 is Darren Gaspar.
Darren Gaspar, originally from WAFL club South Fremantle, was a talented teenage key defender with just two years and 21 games of AFL experience under his belt at Sydney, when Richmond swooped and snared the wantaway Swan with its first pick (No. 3 overall) in the 1996 pre-season draft amid a blaze of publicity.
Gaspar lived up to all the hype, going on to have a stellar career at Tigerland, playing 207 games from 1996-2007, winning the Jack Dyer Medal in the Club’s 2001 finals year, and earning All-Australian selection twice (2000 and 2001).
He had the mental toughness and ideal temperament to cope with the pressure-cooker environment of playing deep in defence on the opposition’s dangerous key forwards.
Nothing seemed to faze Gaspar . . . he went about his business coolly, calmly and with utmost efficiency.
That held him in extremely good stead, especially when he came up against powerful, all-time AFL great key forwards such as Wayne Carey, Tony Lockett, Jason Dunstall and Stephen Kernahan.
Other key factors that contributed to the considerable success Gaspar had as a key defender at the game’s highest level, were his pace, cat-like reflexes and aerial ability (either marking the ball himself or getting a fist in to spoil an opponent’s marking attempt).
The agility he possessed also enabled him to play on, and quell, the competition’s best slick, quick small forwards.
That versatility to match up on opposition forwards of all shapes and sizes significantly enhanced Gaspar’s value to the Tigers’ team.
He was a consummate professional, with his preparation and planning for each opponent being first class.
Gaspar earned a fine reputation throughout his playing days at Richmond as one of AFL football’s best key defenders.
As well as winning the 2001 Jack Dyer Medal, Gaspar had four other top-10 finishes in the Club’s Best and Fairest.
He was runner-up in 2000, 10th in 2002, ninth in 2003 and fourth in 2005, underlining his consistency of performance throughout an excellent 207-game career with Richmond.
