We continue our special holiday season series at richmondfc.com.au, asking you to select the best players to have filled each of the traditional on-field positions for the Tigers throughout the past half-century, from the candidates we have nominated. Our focus today is on the ruckmen...
Neville Crowe
Was invited by Richmond to join in pre-season training in 1957 after impressing as a young ruckman with the State Savings Bank amateur team. Had an instant impact at Tigerland and made his senior league debut in the opening round of the ’57 season against North Melbourne at Punt Road. Went on to become one of the finest players in Richmond’s history. Played 151 games and kicked 84 goals in a career with the Tigers spanning 11 seasons, from 1957-67. Won Richmond’s Best and Fairest award three times, was runner-up twice, captained the Club from 1963-66, was selected in the All-Australian side following the 1966 interstate carnival, and is a Tigers’ Hall of Fame inductee. An inspirational on-field leader, with an excellent work ethic, he also was a fine mark and his ruck technique was exemplary, in particular palming the ball to the team’s rovers.
Mike Patterson
Tough, strong ruckman, who was a fierce competitor, and thrived on mixing it with the opposition. Took on the No. 1 ruck role in Richmond’s line-up for the 1967 Grand Final against Geelong because of Neville Crowe’s suspension and performed extremely well against the Cats’ champion ruckman Polly Farmer. The sterling contribution he made that day was an important factor in the Tigers’ premiership triumph. During his debut season at Tigerland, he had benefitted significantly learning the ruck craft from the Club’s outstanding dual Brownlow Medallist Roy Wright. Was excellent overhead, a good kick, and he provided valuable on-field protection for his smaller teammates with his physical presence. Played 152 games and kicked 73 goals in a decade-long career with Richmond.
Michael Green
Joined Richmond fourths (the under 17s) in 1963 and worked his way through the ranks at Tigerland, making his senior debut during the 1966 season. Initially was a key defender, before finding his niche in the ruck. Was a member of the Tigers’ drought-breaking 1967 premiership side, although he spent the entire Grand Final against Geelong on the bench. By the time Richmond won its next flag in 1969, he had emerged as one of the competition’s best ruckmen. His ruck dominance in the ‘69 finals series was a major factor in the Tigers catapulting their way to the premiership, after they’d scraped into the then final four at the completion of the home-and-away rounds. Subsequently played a key role in Richmond’s back-to-back premierships of 1973-74 through his marking strength, skilful tap-work, impressive mobility for a big man, and goalkicking ability when resting forward. Played 146 games all-up for Richmond, kicked 83 goals, was selected in the Tigers’ Team of the Century, and is a Club Hall of Fame inductee.
Brian Roberts
Joined Richmond as a mature-age ruckman in 1971, having played state representative football in both South Australia and Western Australia beforehand. Affectionately known as ‘The Whale’, due to his size (198cm and 120kg), he became a valuable member of the Tigers’ line-up, and an extremely popular character around the Club. Was a strong mark, a proficient palmer of the ball from ruck contests, and used his bulk to full advantage in one-on-one duels. He played in Richmond’s 1973 and 1974 premiership teams and also was a member of the Tigers’ 1972 Grand Final side. Finished runner-up in the 1975 Brownlow Medal while playing for South Melbourne, after being part of the swap for Swans’ star John Pitura earlier that season. Made 78 senior appearances for Richmond and kicked 34 goals.
Mark Lee
Recruited by Richmond from its old Victorian country recruiting zone in the Sunraysia League, where he’d played senior football for Mildura at just 16 years of age in 1975. He would go on to become the Tigers’ No. 1 ruckman for more than a decade, generating great drive for the team due to his on-field attributes – exceptional agility and mobility for a player his size, a great leap, and the ability to consistently punch the ball a long way forward at centre bounces. That centre-bounce work was such a feature of his superb performance in Richmond’s thumping 1980 Grand Final win against Collingwood, where he defeated a top-class opponent in the Magpies’ ruck star Peter Moore, paving the way for the Tigers’ talented fleet of running players to run riot. He won the Jack Dyer Medal in 1984, after finishing second in 1983, captained Richmond from 1985-87, and was inducted into the Club’s Hall of Fame in 2010 following a fine 233-game career.
