Saddington worked his way up through the ranks at Richmond after joining the Club from the local area in 1955.
He started the ’55 season in the thirds, was then promoted to the reserves, and made his senior debut with the Tigers in 1956.
At 180cm and 89kg, Saddington was a strongly-built player, who was primarily used in the back pocket, minding the opposition’s resting ruckmen.
He was renowned for his marking ability, once taking 16 marks in a match against Essendon, opposed to former Bomber president and AFL commission chairman, the late Ron Evans.
Saddington’s last game for Richmond was the 1962 night grand final against Hawthorn, which the Tigers won.
All-up, Saddington played 102 senior games with the Tigers from 1956-62, before moving to South Australian club Sturt, where he spent three seasons.
He then returned to Victoria as coach of country club Coleraine, guiding it to the 1967 premiership and spending five seasons at the helm.
In 1971, Saddington returned to Richmond as coach of the Club’s under-19s team.
The following year, he took over as coach of the Tigers’ reserves and then, in 1973, he led a side containing players such as Roger Dean, David Cloke, Graham Teasdale, Robert Lamb, Stephen Taubert, Darryl Cumming, Bill Nettlefold and current Richmond recruiting manager, Francis Jackson, to the premiership. He was subsequently made a Life Member of the Club that same year.
Saddington completed his coaching stint with the Tigers after the reserves finished runners-up in 1975.
He remained a highly popular, respected and admired figure among those who were involved with him throughout his playing and coaching career at Tigerland.
The Richmond team will wear black armbands in Sunday’s Round 4 match against Geelong at Simonds Stadium as a mark of respect for the man affectionately called Col.
In the meantime, the Club extends its deepest sympathy to Sandra and his family members.
