We continue our special series reflecting on Richmond’s 1966 pre-season, leading into the great Tommy Hafey’s debut season as the Tigers’ coach, courtesy of ‘The Age’ newspaper archives . . .
Half a century on, Richmond’s final playing list for the 1966 season makes for fascinating reading.
Back in the day, there were five different categories that league clubs used, to sort out their playing lists – Old players, New players, On list when available, Supplementary and Off list.
Three of the new players on the Tigers’ list for the ’66 season went on to become multi-premiership stars – Michael Green (1967, 1969, 1973 and 1974), Geoff Strang (1967 and 1969) and Wayne Walsh (1973 and 1974).
There were four future Yellow and Black premiership heroes among the ‘On list when available’ category – Francis Bourke (1967, 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1980), Eric Moore (1969), John Perry (1967) and Kevin Sheedy (1969, 1973 and 1974).
Also included in that On list when available category was a strongly-built, left-foot full-forward from Ovens and Murray league club Myrtleford by the name of Brian Kekovich.
The older brother of future North Melbourne star ‘Slamming’ Sam Kekovich, however, never made it to Tigerland.
When Richmond’s hold on him expired, he was signed by Carlton, and subsequently played in the Blues’ 1968 premiership side.
The Tigers’ Supplemenary list for 1966 contained three future premiership players – Graeme Bond (1969), Rex Hunt (1969 and 1973) and a teenager from Tasmanian club Clarence, who would become one of league football’s all-time greats, Royce Hart.
Here, from The Age’s edition of April 18, 1966, is Richmond’s full final list for that season . . .
OLD PLAYERS – W. Barrot, K. Bartlett, W. Brown, G. Burgin, N. Busse, B. Cameron, K. Cassidy, N. Crowe, D. Davenport, R. Dean, W. Wickeson, F. Dimattina, G. Gahan, T. Gowers, P. Guinane, M. Hammond, P. Hogan, T. Jewell, O. Madigan, J. Northey, M. Patterson, M. Perry, A. Richardson, B. Richardson, J. Ronaldson, J. Sheahan, K. Smith, F. Swift, W. Walford, R. Warner.
NEW PLAYERS – Bastian (under-19s), B. Campbell (under-19s), M. Green (Xavier College), G. McInnes (Corowa), R. Orchard (Longwarren), G. Strang (Albury), B. Teague (under-19s), W. Walsh (under-19s).
ON LIST WHEN AVAILABLE – F. Bourke (Nathalia), M. Erwin (injured), B. Kekovich (Myrtleford), E. Moore (Coleraine), J. Perry (Wodonga), K. Sheedy (Prahran), K. Shinners (Dandenong), J. Sutton (Dandenong).
SUPPLEMENTARY – D. Beale (under-19s), G. Bond, G. Cliffe, A. Evans, D. Farquharson, R. Hart, R. Horwood, R. Hunt, D. Jacks, G. Johnson, G. Jones, M. Loughran, P. McDonald, J. McKenzie, P. McLaren, R. Robinson.
OFF LIST – G. Bamford (Hamilton Imperials), J. Chivers (Tasmania), R. Lienert (Yarraville), B. Smith (Dandenong).
