Maureen Hafey, who will present the 2019 AFL premiership cup to Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and captain Trent Cotchin if the Tigers are successful in Saturday’s Grand Final against Greater Western Sydney, is a revered figure at Tigerland.
The wife of four-time Richmond premiership coach and Tiger ‘Immortal’, Tommy Hafey, was awarded life membership of the Club in 2015 for the wonderful contribution that she had made to the Club over many decades.
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Throughout this time, Maureen was a pillar of support to numerous Richmond families, players, coaches, officials and staff.
Maureen’s extensive volunteer work at the Club, included her involvement in organising Richmond’s first women’s supporter group, ‘Hafey’s Ambush’.
Her great passion for the Club was highlighted in the life membership acceptance speech she made . . .
“The football club’s been a very special part of my life . . . I was 21 and Tommy was 23 when we came here and, wow, what a journey we had!
“I still call all those players who played under Tommy my boys. I have beautiful girls in my family, but the boys are now about 70. I think I really should start calling them men.
“But, anyway, they did the job. They trained really hard and, although the clubrooms were pretty ordinary, that didn’t stop us from winning premierships . . .
“It was different in those days, the players used to socialise at our place quite a bit.
“We would invite them for dinner and they would come over . . .
“In those days, the players used to have a job and they’d train Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
“We became a family – a football family, I always used to say . . .
“Richmond Football Club, this great club, has been a big part of my life. It has been a great journey and a great love.”
Tigers Immortal Kevin Bartlett, in his book “KB: A Life In Football” encapsulated the key role that Maureen played during the golden Hafey era at Punt Road.
“Maureen was great with all the players’ wives and girlfriends. She brought them all together. Tom and Maureen were a great team.”
