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 we examine a major trade deal that Richmond was involved in during the first half of the ’74 season . . .
One of the most famous player swaps in AFL/VFL football took place this time 50 years ago.
A few days after the notorious Windy Hill brawl, Richmond traded dual premiership big man Rex Hunt to Geelong in exchange for tall defender Gareth Andrews.
The two clubs had been negotiating a deal for several weeks and it was clinched in a meeting in Werribee, about half-way between their respective home grounds.
Key Tiger official Graeme Richmond brokered the deal, which both players were happy with.
The Tigers had been keen on Andrews since the end of the 1973 season and the Cats veteran was equally as interested in making the move to Punt Road.
Andrews was often 19th or 20th man in the Geelong side throughout ’73 and he had become frustrated with his lack of opportunity.
He also was living in Richmond at the time and increasingly growing tired of making the trip to Geelong several times a week.
The Cats, however, refused to release Andrews to the Tigers then, so he committed to continuing his playing career at Kardinia Park.
Hunt, a member of Richmond’s 1969 and 1973 premiership teams, also had expressed his discontent with a lack of opportunity at Tigerland.
Early in the 1974 season, he handed in a letter of resignation, claiming he wasn’t getting a fair go. But he was declared a required player by the Tigers at the time and battled on until the swap with Andrews was arranged.
Seven years earlier, Andrews had been a member of Geelong’s 1967 Grand Final side that lost to Richmond by nine points in a classic encounter.
Following his 136-game career at Geelong, Andrews settled in quickly at Tigerland.
He made his debut with Richmond in Round 8 of the ’74 season against North Melbourne at Arden Street. The Tigers won that match by 25 points with Andrews a solid performer in the backline.
Interestingly, seven days beforehand, he had played for Geelong in its loss to the Kangaroos at Kardinia Park.
The strong-marking, dependable defender went on to play a valuable role in Richmond’s triumphant 1974 premiership campaign.
He was regarded as one of the Tigers’ top three players in their ’74 second semi-final victory over North Melbourne with 15 disposals and 10 marks. Two weeks later, he had 12 disposals and took seven marks in a sound Grand Final display against the Roos.
Incredibly, all-up during that 1974 season, Andrews played against North Melbourne a total of five times!
Andrews retired as a player from league football at the end of the 1975 season, having made 31 senior appearances with Richmond.
He subsequently served as Richmond’s General Manager in 1978-79.
Hunt had an instant impact at Geelong with 19 disposals, 10 marks and a goal on debut for the Cats in a big win against Collingwood at Victoria Park.
The 113-game Tiger flourished initially at the Cattery. Playing at centre half-forward, he kicked 26 goals from 15 games with the Cats in the ’74 season, averaged nearly 10 marks per match, and finished equal-fifth in the Brownlow Medal that year with 15 votes.
But after just one more season, Hunt departed Geelong and joined St Kilda, where he played for three years.
