Richmond is mourning the passing of 1967 premiership player Alan Richardson.

‘Bull’, as he was affectionately known, died this morning following a long illness. He was 74 years of age.

Richmond recruited Richardson from Victorian western district club Casterton and he made his senior league debut for the Club in 1959.

He played 103 games in an 11-year career with Richmond (1959-69) and was a pivotal member of the Tigers’ drought-breaking 1967 premiership side in his capacity as a strongly-built ruck-rover, who brought teammates into the play with constructive handball.

Bull subsequently had a brief stint at South Melbourne, before embarking on a successful coaching career in country Victoria and later in Tasmania, where his eldest son Matthew was born.

He would go on to derive enormous pleasure from watching Matthew’s outstanding playing career at Tigerland.

The Club extends its deepest sympathy to Alan’s wife Dianne, Matthew and other children Samantha, Andrew and Tracey.