Nick Daffy is Richmond’s next Homecoming Hero for season 2016.
The Tigers are set to honour Daffy during the pre-game build-up at this Saturday night’s Round 8 clash with Sydney at the MCG.
Daffy, a Jack Dyer Medallist, and winner of Richmond’s leading goalkicker award, will walk to the Punt Road end of the ground to receive the plaudits of the Yellow and Black faithful.
Richmond dedicate Round 8 to the Alannah & Madeline Foundation
He’ll then proceed to kick a ceremonial goal, before signing the football and presenting it to a Richmond fan in the crowd.
Highlights of Daffy’s playing career with the Tigers also will be shown on the MCG’s screens.
Nick Daffy was recruited by Richmond from North Gambier, where, as a 16-year-old, he’d won the Western Border League’s Rookie of the Year award.
The Tigers, having claimed the talented teenager with their fourth selection in the 1990 National Draft, subsequently nursed him through his first few seasons of league football.
Daffy played a few games with Richmond’s under 19s, during the final season of that competition in 1991, and then made his senior league debut early the next year.
He managed only four senior appearances in 1992 and five in 1993, before establishing himself as a permanent member of the Tiger team during the second half of the 1994 season.
Initially, Daffy made a name for himself at the game’s highest level as a medium-sized forward, winning Richmond’s leading goalkicker award in its 1995 preliminary final season, with 45 goals.
Such was Daffy’s influence in attack for the Tigers throughout that period, the then dual West Coast Eagles premiership coach Mick Malthouse described him as the competition’s best medium forward.
Daffy, however, further underlined his importance to the Richmond side, when he eventually moved into a midfield role.
With his pace, ability to create space, and long kicking, Daffy became a key member of the Tigers’ midfield.
In 1998, Daffy produced his best season of league football. He averaged 23.6 disposals per game, was ranked third in the whole competition for total kicks, kicked 30 goals as a midfielder, and capped a fine season by winning the Jack Dyer Medal.
Round 8 Richmond v Sydney Match Day Info
Daffy backed it up with another strong season in 1999, averaging 22.8 disposals per match and scoring 18 goals.
The following year, Daffy’s form was a bit up and down, even though he played all but one game.
Then, in 2001, a series of injuries restricted him to just 11 senior appearances.
At the end of that 2001 season, Daffy was traded by the Tigers to Sydney in exchange for ruckman Greg Stafford.
He managed only one game with the Swans in 2002, however, before announcing his retirement from league football.
Nick Daffy, at the peak of his powers, had been a damaging player for Richmond, both as a goalkicking forward and ball-magnet midfielder.
Given he was taken by the Tigers at pick 49 overall in that 1990 national draft, it’s fair to say he ended up being a top-value selection with what he achieved over the course of his decade-long playing career at Punt Road.
Nick Daffy profile
Born: 11/5/1973
Height: 183cm
Playing weight: 85kg
Draft history: Taken by Richmond at pick 49 overall in the 1990 National Draft
Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 44 and No. 10
Debut at Richmond: Round 2, 1992 v North Melbourne at Waverley Park
Games at Richmond (1992-2001): 165
Goals at Richmond: 181
Honors at Richmond: Jack Dyer Medal winner in 1998; Club leading goalkicker award in 1995
