Mike Perry is Richmond’s next Homecoming Hero for the 2023 season.

The Tigers are set to pay tribute to the 1967 premiership star in the lead-up to Thursday night’s Round 17 clash with Sydney at the MCG.

Perry will walk to the Punt Road end of the ground to receive the plaudits of the Tiger Army.

He’ll kick a ceremonial goal, then sign the football and present it to a Richmond fan in the crowd.

Mike Perry was recruited by Richmond from Victorian Amateur Football Association club Old Scotch Collegians.

He made his senior debut with the Tigers on the bench as 19^th man in Round 2 of the 1965 season against Collingwood at Victoria Park.

The following week against St Kilda at the MCG, Perry suffered a broken jaw, which sidelined for the rest of the season.

Perry didn’t return to senior action with Richmond until Round 5, 1966, but he maintained his place in the main line-up for the remaining home-and-away rounds that year.

In 1967, Perry took his game to another level, establishing himself as one of the competition’s best centre half-backs.

_{In the early 1960s learning the club's theme song (from left) Neville Crowe, Kevin Smith, Mike Perry, John Ronaldson.}

He played 17 games, gained selection in the Victorian side for the State game against Western Australia at the MCG, and was a pivotal member of the Tigers’ drought-breaking premiership team.

Tall and strongly-built, possessing a mop of red hair, Perry endeared himself to the Tiger Army with his rugged approach, tenacity, excellent judgment and long, clearing dashes out of defence.

With those on-field attributes, Perry was ideally suited to coach Tommy Hafey’s attacking game style.

Perry performed admirably for Richmond in its glorious 1967 Grand Final triumph over Geelong, finishing the big match with 14 disposals and three marks.

Arguably the best performance of Perry’s playing career with the Tigers came in the first encounter with the Cats during the ’67 season, when he had 22 disposals and took eight marks.

Unfortunately, Perry copped some significant setbacks in his next couple of seasons at Punt Road.

Injuries restricted him to only 20 home-and-away senior appearances throughout that time, and he missed Richmond’s 1969 finals campaign after being suspended for striking Footscray’s Tad Joniec in the final round.

Perry didn’t manage another senior game with the Tigers after that, but he did play in the Club’s 1971 reserve-grade premiership side.

_{Perry in his playing days in the '60s with (from left), Graham Burgin, Mike Perry, Geoff Strang and Roger Dean.}

All-up, Perry played 72 games and kicked 12 goals for Richmond at senior level.

As well as his impressive form at centre half-back, he also provided some valuable ruck back-up at times in the Tigers’ line-up.

Perry subsequently had a lengthy stint as president of Richmond’s Former Players and Officials’ Association, highlighting his great Yellow and Black passion.

Richmond is proud to have welcomed back Motorola as partner of our 2023 Homecoming Heroes. Motorola was recently announced as the official smartphone partner of the Richmond Football Club.

Mike Perry profile

Born: May 16, 1944

Height: 191cm

Playing weight: 93.5kg

Recruited to Richmond from: Old Scotch Collegians

Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 22

Debut at Richmond: Round 2, 1965 v Collingwood, Victoria Park

Games at Richmond (1965-1969): 72

Goals at Richmond: 12

Playing honours at Richmond: Premiership player 1967

Richmond's Homecoming Heroes since 2014...