In a series focusing on Richmond’s trade/draft history, today we look at Graeme Landy's move from Geelong to key member of the Tigers' 1982 Grand Final team.
Graeme Landy had played predominantly as a half-forward at his original league club Geelong, before being traded at the end of the 1978 season to Richmond, where he developed into a strong, consistent performer on a half-back flank.
Landy was a fine mark for his size, good left-foot kick, top tackler, tough, and he read the play well.
Those attributes enabled him to regularly chop off opposition attacking moves, and initiate forward moves for the Tigers from out of the backline.
He made a slow start to his career at Tigerland, playing just four senior games in his 1979 debut season.
By the time the 1980 finals series rolled around, however, Landy had established himself as a senior regular in the Tiger line-up, with his steely resolve and all-round skills set across half-back.
Unfortunately, though, Landy missed Richmond’s premiership triumph that year, when he was suspended for four matches on a charge of striking Carlton’s Ken Sheldon, in the qualifying final win against the Blues at Waverley Park. It was that incident which sparked the fiery quarter-time, physical confrontation between rival coaches Tony Jewell and ‘Percy’ Jones.
In the face of such a major setback in his league career, Landy displayed admirable character to bounce back and play some consistently good football for the Tigers over the next six seasons.
He polled a career-high seven Brownlow Medal votes in 1981, was a key member of the 1982 Richmond Grand Final team that lost to Carlton, and finished third in the Club’s 1983 Best and Fairest award, following a season in which he racked up 20 disposals or more on 11 occasions.
Landy left Richmond at the end of the 1986 season and returned to Geelong, where he spent another couple of years.
His Tiger teammates of the day rated him highly for the reliable service he provided the senior side during his time at Punt Road.
Graeme Landy profile
Born: 31/5/1954
Height: 183cm
Playing weight: 84.5kg
Richmond draft history: Traded to the Tigers by Geelong in 1978
Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 34
Debut at Richmond: Round 18, 1979 v St Kilda, Waverley Park
Games at Richmond (1979-1986): 120
Goals at Richmond: 38
