In a special holiday season series, richmondfc.com.au is asking Tiger fans to select the best player to have worn each of the most significant guernsey numbers in the Club’s history. To assist in your quest, we have profiled those players that have racked up a minimum of 50 games wearing the number. The game totals and years listed relate to those played while wearing the specific number, not total Richmond career numbers. Today, we focus on the No. 2 guernsey.
No. 2
Darren Gaspar – 207 games, 1996-2007
Top-class full-back, who was a model of consistency for the vast majority of his career at Tigerland. Won the Jack Dyer Medal in 2001 and was a dual All-Australian representative (2000, 2001).
Roy Wright – 195 games, 1946-1959
Outstanding ruckman. Beautiful palmer of the ball, superb mark and magnificent, long kick. Won two Brownlow Medals (1952, 1954), four Club Best and Fairests (1951, 1952, 1954, 1957) and captained the Tigers from 1958-1959.
Bert Edwards – 122 games, 1938-1945
Talented wingman/half-forward. Played in Richmond’s 1943 premiership side and the Club’s 1940, 1942 and 1944 Grand Final teams.
Robert Wiley – 95 games, 1979-1983
Brilliant rover, who was a highly-prized recruit for Richmond from WAFL club Perth. Played a key role in the Tigers’ dominant 1980 premiership year due to his silky skills.
George Bayliss – 88 games, 1916-1923
Richmond’s first recognised full-forward. Quick on the lead and a lovely, long, left-foot kick. Missed the Club’s inaugural league premiership in 1920 due to injury, but was a member of the Tigers’ team that defeated Carlton in the 1921 Grand Final. Won the competition’s leading goalkicker award in 1920.
Ian Stewart – 78 games, 1971-1975
Magnificent centreman, who thrived at Richmond after being traded by St Kilda in exchange for Bill Barrot. Won his third Brownlow Medal in his debut season with the Tigers in 1971, as well as the Jack Dyer Medal that year. Went on to play a pivotal role in Richmond’s 1973 premiership. Had impeccable skills and truckloads of courage.
Don Harris – 64 games, 1926-1930
Fearless, reliable small defender and a fine exponent of the drop kick. Played in the Tigers’ losing Grand Final sides of 1927, 1928 and 1929.
John Ronaldson – 59 games, 1965-1970
A hero of Richmond’s drought-breaking 1967 premiership side. Kicked three goals in the epic Grand Final encounter with Geelong – two of them coming from superb set shots during the frenetic final term, which were pivotal in lifting the Tigers over the line.
Will Thursfield – 55 games, 2008-2011
The key defender had a whirlwind start to his league career at Richmond, being elevated from the rookie list to the senior list and earning plenty of praise for his form early on. Unfortunately, however, injuries curtailed his advancement at the game’s highest level.
Dylan Grimes – 55 games, 2012-2015
Showed plenty of promise from the outset of his time with the Tigers, but then endured a horror injury run (primarily hamstring trouble). Thankfully, the dependable defender appears to have overcome his problems on the injury front, having played 37 of his overall total of 63 senior games in six seasons over the past two years.
Chris Burton – 50 games, 1985-1988
A running, skilful utility player who crossed over from Footscray, where he had spent five seasons. Was a valuable contributor for the Tigers.
