With Richmond continuing the 50-year celebrations of its glorious 1973 premiership triumph by dedicating Saturday night’s clash with St Kilda at the MCG as Retro Round, and the annual Ian Stewart Medal to be presented to the best player on the ground in the match, Tony Greenberg looks at how the outstanding centreman performed for the Tigers throughout the ’73 season.

Ian Stewart had a remarkable 1971 debut season at Richmond following his transfer from St Kilda in a sensational swap deal for dynamic dual premiership Tiger Bill Barrot, winning the Brownlow Medal and the Jack Dyer Medal.

The following year, Stewart’s form was down slightly as he battled some injury issues.

In 1973, however, Stewart bounced back brilliantly.

After missing Richmond’s opening round match because of injury, he had an instant impact in the team’s 17-point, Round 2 win against Geelong at the MCG, with 20 disposals and five marks.

Retro Round | This weekend is Retro Round, we are encouraging fans to dress up in their best retro outfits!

Want a $2 Four ‘N Twenty Classic Meat Pie? They will be available inside the MCG before the first bounce at 7:25pm, be there early to secure this deal.

The next week, Stewart returned to Moorabbin to play against his former side St Kilda, and he was a major factor in the Tigers’ 29-point victory, recording 18 disposals, taking seven marks and kicking what would be a season-high four goals for him.

Stewart shone for Richmond in all three games against the Saints that season.

In the return home-and-away match at VFL Park (Waverley), as it was then known, which took place in Round 15, Stewart had 27 disposals and took three marks, with the Tigers registering a 13-point win.

And, in the cut-throat first semi-final at the MCG, ‘Stewie’ had 20 disposals and booted a goal, as Richmond kept its premiership hopes alive with a decisive 40-point victory.

Stewart’s most disposals for the ’73 season were 33 in the Round 9 encounter with Collingwood at VFL Park, which the Tigers lost by 39 points.

He had 30 disposals or more two other times throughout the season – 31 against Carlton in Round 17 at Princes Park (a 26-point loss), and 30 v Hawthorn, Round 19, Glenferrie Oval. That day, he also took a season-high 11 marks in a thrilling five-point win.

In Richmond’s two most important games of the 1973 season – the preliminary final and the Grand Final – Stewart played a pivotal role.

Shifted forward by coach Tommy Hafey, as one of several positional moves at half-time of the preliminary final against Collingwood, with the Tigers trailing by 36 points, Stewart helped spark a dramatic Yellow and Black revival, kicking two crucial goals.

A week later, in the ’73 Grand Final against Carlton, Stewart again hit the scoreboard in strong style.

He kicked a goal from a set shot after the siren in the second quarter to cap off a fine first half by him in his customary centreman role.

Early in the third term, Stewart sustained a leg injury, and he subsequently again was switched to the forward line.

Although hampered in his movements, Stewie still managed to have a significant impact, steering through two more goals to finish with an equal game-high three goals.

Stewart played a total of 23 games that season, kicked 16 goals and averaged 20.9 disposals per match.

He finished equal-sixth in the Brownlow Medal with 17 votes and was runner-up in the Jack Dyer Medal.