Throughout the past six decades there has been a key common dominator in Richmond’s rise from the low rungs of the league ladder to sustained premiership success. In the countdown to the 2024 AFL national draft, we present a special three-part series on how, historically, the Tigers have reaped the rewards of investing in youthful talent coming through the ranks at Punt Road together. First-up, it’s the lead-in to the golden era under the Club’s ‘Immortal’ coach Tommy Hafey.

 The 1965 season was a pivotal one in Richmond’s history.

It was the season that the Club became a co-tenant at the MCG with Melbourne.

Although the Tigers ultimately missed the finals, it was their best finish for many years (fifth in the then final-four system).

Most importantly, the 1965 season signalled the start of Richmond’s long-awaited revival, on the back of a group of talented, young recruits who were provided with opportunities at senior level.

The Tigers unearthed a couple of players that year who would go on to become integral members of multi-Yellow and Black premiership sides.

One of those players, Barry Richardson, made his senior debut in the opening round of the ’65 season against the Demons at the MCG.

Richardson was a talented, tall 19-year-old utility from St Pat’s College, Ballarat.

Two weeks later, in the Round 3 clash with St Kilda at the MCG, Richmond blooded a local, skinny, 18-year-old rover, who had worked his way up through the various grades at Tigerland, from the under 17s to the seniors – Kevin Bartlett.

Richardson made only two senior appearances all-up in his ’65 debut season because of a serious knee injury, and he managed just three more games the following year.

But in 1967, when the Tigers broke a 24-year premiership drought, Richardson played an important role as a half-forward.

When Richmond won the flag again in 1969, Richardson had transformed into a top-class full-back.

Richardson became a triple Tiger premiership hero in 1974, this time as a star full-forward after recovering from another major knee injury. He kicked five goals in the Grand Final triumph over North Melbourne.

That was to be the last game of Richardson’s decade-long career at Punt Road. He retired as a triple premiership player with 125 games overall, 134 goals, and is a Tigers Hall of Fame inductee.

Bartlett, meanwhile, played 14 games in that ’65 debut season, 14 again in 1966, and 20 in Richmond’s 1967 premiership year as the team’s star first rover.

He won his inaugural Jack Dyer Medal in 1967, at just 20 years of age, and maintained a remarkably high level of consistency throughout the seasons.

With his lightning speed, elite stamina, ball-winning ability, innate goal sense and durability, Bartlett exerted an enormous influence on Richmond games for the best part of two decades.

By the time Bartlett’s playing career finished at the end of the 1983 season, he had a record 403 games next to his name, was a five-time premiership hero, a five-time Jack Dyer Medallist, a four-time club leading goalkicker, a Norm Smith Medallist, and was regarded as one of the greatest players in Tigerland’s history.

The 1966 season saw Richmond add two more important pieces to its premiership puzzle.

Dick Clay, a 21-year-old star key forward from Kyabram, made his senior debut with the Tigers in Round 2, 1966 against Footscray at the MCG, lining up at centre half-forward on Bulldog legend Ted Whitten.

It was a baptism of fire for Clay, but he passed with flying colours.

Later that season, Clay was switched to a wing in what proved to be an inspired move by first-year coach Tommy Hafey.

Clay developed into a first-rate wingman, and he performed so impressively in that position for Richmond in the 1967 and 1969 premierships.

Further highlighting his excellent versatility, Clay subsequently became one of the best full-backs in the competition. That’s where he played – and excelled – when the Tigers captured back-to-back flags in 1973-74.

The four-time premiership Tiger hung up his boots at the end of the 1976 season having played 213 games and kicked 80 goals.

In the second last round of the ’66 season, Richmond introduced another young player to its senior ranks for its match against South Melbourne at the Lake Oval.

Michael Green, from the Tigers’ metropolitan recruiting zone, started his career with the Club as a tall defender, but eventually developed into one of the best ruckmen in the competition.

Green, as a 19-year-old, spent the entire 1967 Grand Final against Geelong on the bench. Two years later, however, when Richmond defeated Carlton in the premiership-decider, Green was outstanding as the team’s No. 1 ruckman.

He was a key contributor in the Tigers’ next two Grand Final victories in 1973 and 1974, before bowing out at the end of the 1975 season as a four-time premiership player with 146 games and 83 goals to his credit.

The opening round of the 1967 season saw an exciting 19-year-old key forward from Tasmanian club Clarence make his senior debut for Richmond against Essendon at the MCG.

Royce Hart, who had kicked the winning goal for the Tigers in the 1966 VFL reserve-grade grand final, showed from the outset that he was going to be something special.

Hart took 10 marks and kicked three goals (3.7) playing at full-forward in Richmond’s convincing Round 1 win, immediately capturing the imagination of the Tiger Army.

By season’s end, Hart had kicked 55 goals, including nine in two finals, won a premiership medal with the Tigers, and earned a reputation as one of the best young players in the game.

He went on to play 187 games all-up, kick 369 goals, capture two Jack Dyer Medals, win the Club’s leading goalkicker award twice and star in four premierships, two of them as captain.

Hart was idolised by Yellow and Black barrackers for his on-field brilliance and continual capacity to lift the Tigers when they needed it most.

A 19-year-old centreman from VFA club Prahran, Kevin Sheedy, was the next future multi-premiership star to debut for Richmond.

Sheedy, who risked a five-year disqualification from VFA football by joining the Tigers without a clearance, was given an opportunity in the senior side for the Round 3 match against Fitzroy at the MCG when gun centreman Bill Barrot was ruled out due to injury.

He performed admirably first-up at the level, played the next five games, but was then dropped back to the reserves.

A knee injury prematurely ended his season and any chance he had of playing in Richmond’s historic ’67 premiership.

Given Barrot’s match-winning capabilities in the centre, Sheedy had to find another position if he was to establish himself as a permanent member of the Tigers’ line-up.

Back pocket, minding the opposition’s resting rovers, proved to be the ideal role for Sheedy with his tough, uncompromising style of play.

After becoming a leading back pocket in the competition, and representing Victoria in that position, Sheedy subsequently shone as a ruck-rover, utilising his clever football brain, exemplary work ethic and impressive skill set.

Sheedy was back pocket in Richmond’s 1969 Grand Final success against Carlton and ruck-rover when the Tigers beat the Blues in the 1973 premiership-decider, as well as the following year against North Melbourne.

The triple premiership Tiger played 251 games, kicked 91 goals, won a Jack Dyer Medal and served as club captain.

Finally, in Round 5, 1967, Francis Bourke, the 20-year-old son of former Richmond player of the 1940s, Frank Bourke, debuted at senior level with the Club.

Bourke, from Victorian country town Nathalia, initially was tried in a forward pocket, as second rover to Kevin Bartlett. But when the Tigers triumphed on that last Saturday in September 1967, Bourke was a significant contributor as a wingman.

It was on a wing that Bourke thrived for the next few seasons, until coach Hafey decided to move him to the backline in a bid to bolster that area of the ground for the team.

He proceeded to become an elite backman, combining tight defence, fierce determination and toughness with long, clearing kicks.

Bourke’s playing career at Tigerland spanned 300 games in 15 seasons with five premierships, one Jack Dyer Medal and the club captaincy as his rewards.

Of those seven young guns recruited by Richmond, six of them were selected in the Club’s Team of the Century, which was announced during 1999 – Bartlett, Clay, Green, Hart, Sheedy and Bourke.

Bartlett, Clay, Hart and Bourke also are Tiger ‘Immortals’ – the highest individual accolade at the Club.

The ‘sensational seven’ were the foundation of the dominant Richmond teams of the Hafey era.

It’s worth noting, however, that the Tigers introduced several other talented, young players throughout Hafey’s reign as coach who had a significant impact.

Here is a snapshot of those players . . .

Neil Balme, a big, strong ruckman/forward from WAFL club Subiaco. Made his senior debut with Richmond late in the 1970 season as an 18-year-old. Played 159 games, kicked 229 goals, won the Club’s leading goalkicker award twice, is a dual premiership player and a Tigers Hall of Fame inductee.

Kevin Morris, a tough, skilful utility from VFA club Waverley. Debuted as a 20-year-old in 1971. Played 110 games, kicked 71 goals, won a Jack Dyer Medal and is a dual premiership player.

Bryan Wood, a determined, dashing, long-kicking wingman from Blackburn. Made his senior debut, aged 18, in 1972. Played 209 games, kicked 85 goals, was club captain, is a triple premiership player and a club Hall of Fame inductee.

Mervyn Keane, an ultra-dependable defender from Wycheproof. Debuted in 1972, aged 18. Played 238 games, kicked 36 goals, is a three-time premiership player, a club Hall of Fame inductee, and was named half-back in Richmond’s Team of the Century.

David Cloke, a powerful key forward from Oakleigh. Made his debut, aged 19, in 1974. Played 219 games, kicked 272 goals, was club captain, is a dual premiership player and a Tigers Hal of Fame inductee.