Richmond has awarded life memberships to its Western Australian-based premiership players.

The Tigers bestowed the honor upon Robert Wiley (1980 premiership), Daryl Freame (1980) and Noel Carter (1973) during their trip to Perth for last Sunday’s match against Fremantle.

Colin Beard, a member of the Club’s 1969 premiership side, is currently overseas and will be presented with his life membership when he returns.

Earlier this year, Richmond’s board decided to grant life membership to each member of every senior premiership side throughout the Club’s history, regardless of length of tenure at Tigerland or number of games played.

This life membership eligibility change occurred because of the Board’s desire to reaffirm that premierships are the ultimate measure of success at the Club.

Previously, the life membership honour was not available to those Tigers who had been part of a single premiership side with the Club, unless they also had played a minimum of 100 games.

Robert Wiley, a superbly-skilled rover, with great goal sense, was recruited by Richmond from WAFL club Perth and made his senior debut with the Tigers in the opening round of the 1979 season, against South Melbourne at the Lake Oval.

Wiley went on to play 95 games all-up for Richmond, including the 1980 premiership side, and kick 127 goals in a fine five-season career at Tigerland from 1979-83, before returning to Perth in the WAFL.

Daryl Freame was a creative wingman, who had the unique distinction of playing in premiership teams across all four grades with the Tigers – under 17s, under 19s, reserves and seniors.

Freame timed his run to perfection in 1980. He made his first senior appearance for the season in Richmond’s second semi-final victory over Geelong and retained his place (on the interchange bench) for the Grand Final demolition of Collingwood.

Following an injury-riddled 17-game senior career at Richmond, Freame made the move across the Nullabor to join WAFL club Perth.

Noel Carter, a talented rover, was recruited by Richmond from Tasmanian club Ulverstone.

Carter made his senior league debut in Round 11 of the 1973 season against South Melbourne at the Lake Oval, but was dropped after that match.

He didn’t reappear again at senior level until the return clash with the Swans in Round 21 that season, played the final-round match against Footscray, missed the qualifying final v Carlton, the first semi-final v St Kilda, but was recalled for the preliminary final v Collingwood and retained his place in the line-up for the Grand Final triumph over the Blues.

After a 50-game career with the Tigers from 1973-77, Carter also was lured west to South Fremantle, where he carved out a highly-successful playing career.

Colin Beard was a rugged tall defender from South Fremantle, who stood out of football for a year, so he could obtain a clearance to Richmond.

He debuted with the Tigers in the second half of the 1969 season, as a 27-year-old, went on to play a total of 33 games for the Club, including the ’69 premiership success against Carlton, and then returned to South Fremantle.

Here’s how Wiley, Freame and Carter responded to their Richmond life membership honour . . .

Robert Wiley

“It’s an unbelievable honour. It’s probably the best honour you could have . . . to be part of a club forever and ever, and be part of that history. It’s something that I wasn’t expecting, but totally over the moon and really proud and honoured . . .

“Being a West Australian, coming over to a traditional club, with the supporter base, and playing at the MCG, was just an amazing experience. Sometimes it’s about opportunity, and I was there in a good period. Winning the premiership was obviously a highlight . . . Just unbelievable memories to be part of a club that’s folklore really.”

Daryl Freame

“It was a great honour to play for Richmond Football Club and to be a life member . . . I think once you play for the Club you really enjoy it and look forward and a life membership is just something like icing on the cake.”

Noel Carter

“I’m very proud to have received this award. It means a fair bit . . . a bloody lot, actually . . . I’d just like to recognise how important it is to pull on the jumper and play for Richmond, and to feel that Yellow and Black pumping through your veins. No one sets out to become a life member, but it brings back a lot of memories from when I was able to play in the ’73 premiership . . .”