To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1974 premiership, Richmond Media is transporting Yellow and Black barrackers back in time throughout 2024 to follow the Punt Road path to that tremendous triumph. Today’s instalment features a candid declaration by brilliant Richmond captain Royce Hart, in The Age newspaper on the eve of the ’74 season, that his playing days are numbered.

Richmond champion centre half-forward Royce Hart says it is only a matter of time before he is forced out of football.

“It could be now, a month’s time, a year or two years,” he said.

Hart, 26, has a chronic condition that already is restricting some of the agility that has made him a great player.

“I’ve had the condition for about three years. It’s getting worse and worse and is affecting most of the things I do in football,” he said.

“I’ve seen three or four specialists. There is no cure for it – in fact there is no real name for the injury.

“I tore a groin muscle a few years ago and the condition just followed from that.

“This year, in trying to get over my knee operation, I’ve probably put far too much pressure on my groin and it’s gone again.

“I’m as fit, in condition, as anyone else, but I lack any sort of power in my legs from the groin down to the knee.

“This means I can’t spring as much as I could. I can’t do many things I could before. I can’t get out of a difficult position like I was able to.”

Hart said his traini8ng had been affected by the leg injury.

“I can do gym work and long, slow running, but short, sharp work is out,” he said.

“I can’t come up from Saturday to Saturday with all the work needed in between.

“I know what must happen eventually – the groin will go.

“At the moment, I’m confident of seeing through the season, but it is the sort of injury which could let me down at any time.”

Hart has played 129 games with Richmond since coming here from Tasmania and debuting in 1967. He has represented Victoria in six of those seven years and to say his presence has been an inspiration to Richmond would be an understatement.

His loss, to football and the Tigers, will be inestimable.