Gareth Andrews is Richmond’s next Homecoming Hero for the 2018 season.

The Tigers are set to pay tribute to their 1974 premiership player and former key administrator in the lead-up to tonight’s big clash with Geelong at the MCG.

Andrews will walk to the Punt Road end of the ground, where he’ll receive due recognition from the Tiger Army.

He’ll kick a ceremonial goal, then sign the football and present it to a Richmond fan in the crowd.

Highlights of Andrews’ career with the Tigers also will be shown on the MCG’s big screens.

Gareth Andrews was part of one of the game’s most famous swaps, early in the 1974 season, when he transferred from Geelong to Richmond in exchange for dual Tiger premiership player Rex Hunt.

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, Andrews settled in very quickly at Tigerland, playing as a back pocket minding the opposition’s resting ruckmen.

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 contributor in defence.

Interestingly, seven days beforehand, he had played for Geelong in a loss to the Kangaroos at Kardinia Park.

The safe, strong-marking 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 and, two weeks later, he gathered 17 disposals in a sound Grand Final display against the Roos.

Incredibly, all-up during that 1974 season, Andrews played against North Melbourne five times!

Andrews retired as a player from league football at the end of the 1975 season, and he subsequently served as Richmond’s General Manager in 1978-79.

Gareth Andrews profile

Born: December 21, 1946

Height: 191cm 

Playing weight: 90kg

Recruited from: Geelong

Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 5

Debut at Richmond: Round 8, 1974 v North Melbourne, Arden Street

Games played at Richmond: 31

Goals at Richmond: 1

Honours at Richmond: Member of the 1974 premiership side

Here is a list of Richmond's Homecoming Heroes since 2014...