In a series focusing on Richmond’s trade/draft history, we focus on Greg Stafford’s shift from Sydney to Tigerland.
At the end of the 2001 season, Greg Stafford had become stale with his football life at the Sydney Swans, following a 130-game career in nine years there, including the 1996 Grand Final loss to North Melbourne.
Richmond, coming off a preliminary final appearance in 2001, persuaded the powerfully-built ruckman to make a fresh start at Punt Road, as part of a trade for midfielder/forward Nick Daffy.
The Tigers’ ruck stocks had been sorely diminished due to the retirement of reliable Club stalwart Brendon Gale at the end of that ’01 season, and they saw the experienced Stafford as an ideal replacement.
Stafford, however, initially agreed to only a one-year contract with Richmond, as he wanted to be sure that he still had an appetite for the game at the highest level.
“Initially, when I came down to Melbourne, I only signed on for one year because, at that stage of my football career, I didn’t know if I really wanted to do it anymore. That was because I had some injury problems, I wasn’t playing well, and my enjoyment levels were wilting,” Stafford said.
“I thought, look, I’m not going to come down here and take any more than a year because, if after 12 months’ time I don’t want to continue, I don’t want to be in that situation, where I’m taking money from the Club, or I’m embroiled in some sort of dispute.
“So, I just said, let’s have a crack at it for 12 months and see how it goes . . .”
As it turned out, a revitalised Greg Stafford went on to play 74 games and provide the Tigers with solid value over the ensuing five seasons. Daffy, on the other hand, a Richmond Best and Fairest winner in 1998, could manage only one game for the Swans.
At 204cm and 106kg, Stafford bolstered the Richmond line-up with his physical presence. Throw in strong marking, accurate kicking for goal, toughness, aggression, experience, leadership qualities, an admirable work ethic, along with a clever football brain, and you had a more than handy acquisition.
Stafford’s Tiger teammates seemed to walk that little bit taller when he imposed himself on the match-day action.
Given his size and all-round football attributes, he had the confidence to match it with any big-man opponent in the competition, without ever feeling intimidated.
Stafford wasn’t renowned for kicking goals during his time with the Swans, but that changed upon his arrival at Tigerland.
Given more time up forward with the Tigers, Stafford developed into a dependable deep target, and a dead-eye shot for goal.
He finished with a career-best 26 goals (26.10) in 2002, and followed up with 20 goals (20.5) the following season.
All-up, he kicked 83.32 in his five seasons at Richmond – an impressive 72% scoring efficiency.
That capacity to maximise his opportunities, pretty much encapsulated Stafford’s time with the Tigers.
