Mark Lee was Richmond’s No. 1 ruckman for more than a decade, and a darn good one, too.
Lee played a total of 233 games, was a key member of the Club’s 1980 premiership side, won the Jack Dyer Medal in 1984, captained the Tigers in 1985-86, and gained All-Australian selection three times.
He wasn’t a noted goalkicker over the course of his fine league football career, with 94 goals from the 233 games he played. But, remarkably, 18 of those goals came in three consecutive matches during the 1982 season, with a whopping, career-high nine against St Kilda in Round 17.
‘The General’, as he was affectionately known as, had endured a frustrating injury run from early that year. He broke his wrist in a practice match and didn’t play at senior level until Round 8. Then, after just one game back, a hamstring injury kept him sidelined for a further month.
During Lee’s lengthy absence, Richmond coach Francis Bourke had shifted star spearhead Michael Roach into the ruck, and that move had proved highly successful, with ‘Disco’ utilising the excellent agility he possessed in his new role to full advantage for the team.
When Lee returned to the line-up, Bourke opted to keep Roach rucking and give The General a go at full-forward.
In the Tigers’ 75-point, Round 16 demolition of Melbourne at the MCG, Lee showed extremely encouraging signs as the team’s spearhead, taking five marks and kicking four goals.
Clearly, he had an appetite for goals after that. The Demons clash was the entrée and the encounter with St Kilda at the MCG the following week a sumptuous main course.
Lee feasted on the Saints defenders, as leading football writer of the day, Geoff Slattery, recounted in his match report for ‘The Age’ newspaper . . .
“It is unlikely Lee will play many better games than he did on Saturday. With Richmond coach Francis Bourke preferring former full-forward Michael Roach to spend more than half his time as the No. 1 ruckman, Lee has been given the full-forward post. Occasionally, he has a run on the ball, but only occasionally . . .
For most of the day the forward line consisted of Mark Lee and his man . . . And Lee, one out against a St Kilda player (any St Kilda player) about half his size, is a daunting figure indeed.
Lee marked high, he marked low, he led quickly, he kicked straight, and he finished with 9.2. He was not, as is the wont many forward/ruckmen, lazy when he went on the ball. He ran, chased, tackled, harassed and shepherded.”
With Lee in full flight at full-forward (22 disposals, 12 marks and nine goals), Richmond posted a huge 83-point victory over the Saints.
But Lee’s hunger for goals had not been satisfied just yet.
The Tigers tore Geelong apart at Waverley Park in Round 18, winning by 84 points. Lee again led the way up forward, booting five goals.
That gave him 18 goals in three games on the trot – an achievement any of the best full-forwards throughout the competition’s history would have been delighted with.
Lee, who had only two goals on the board in 1982, leading up to his tremendous, three-match goalkicking burst, returned to his customary No. 1 ruck role and scored just two more goals for the season, with Richmond finishing runner-up to Carlton. But that overall tally of 22 goals proved to be his best in a season with the Tigers.
