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 look at an article in The Sun newspaper, this time 50 years ago, by footballer writer Bob Crimeen that detailed the late-season comeback of Tigers star Barry Richardson from a career-threatening knee injury.

“I came back because I didn’t want my last football memory to be one of being carried off the ground on a stretcher.”

Barry Richardson, the man who said that last night, has come back.

He will be at full-forward for Richmond on the MCG tomorrow against South Melbourne in his first senior game since the opening match of the 1973 season.

It was in that game that Richardson, now 28, damaged the third of his four knee cartilages and was carried from the ground.

He did not player another game for the year, underwent yet another cartilage operation after the season, and has played only nine reserves games with the Tigers in his comeback.

He played six, suffered a serious thigh injury which kept him out of seven and has survived the last three without further mishap.

“When I hurt my knee last year I knew I was finished for the season and at that stage I was prepared to retire from football for good,” Richardson said.

“I had a lot of time to think everything over and the urge to play again returned.

“I love football and I believed deep down that I could come back.

“I felt that being carried from the ground was a terrible way to finish my League career.

“That really was the major motivation in having another try.

“I feel that my legs are pretty well up to scratch again and what I have to prove is whether I’ve lost anything as a senior footballer.

“Until I get that chance I’m unable to say what my destiny will be.”

Richardson, a physiotherapist recruited from St. Patrick’s College, Ballarat, in 1965, said he would be toey before tomorrow’s game.

“If I believe I’m as good as I was before suffering the injury I’ll probably play next year.

“Whatever happens, the next couple of games will decide my football future . . .”