Gareth Andrews, who will be inducted as a Life Member of the AFL later this month, is best known these days in the football world as Geelong’s vice-president.
But Andrews’ contribution to Richmond, both as a player and administrator, is well worth noting.
Andrews was part of one of the game’s most famous swaps, early in the 1974 season, when he switched from Geelong to Richmond in exchange for dual Tiger premiership player Rex Hunt.
Ironically, seven years earlier, he had been a member of the Cats’ 1967 Grand Final side that lost to Richmond by nine points in a classic encounter.
After a 167-game career at Geelong, the 191cm Andrews settled in very quickly at Tigerland in the role of a back pocket minding the opposition’s resting ruckmen.
The safe, strong-marking defender went on to play a valuable role in Richmond’s 1974 premiership triumph.
He was regarded as one of the Tigers’ top three players in their ’74 second semi-final victory over North Melbourne and, two weeks later, he gathered 17 disposals in a solid Grand Final display against the Roos.
Andrews retired as a player from league football at the end of the 1975 season, and subsequently served as Richmond’s General Manager in 1978-79.
The Club congratulates him on his Life Membership achievement with the AFL.
