Richmond recently amended its Life Membership eligibility criteria, elevating the status of premiership players throughout the Club’s league football history.
Under the changes, players now automatically qualify as Richmond Life Members if they have been members of multiple premierships, or have played in a single premiership, and a minimum of 100 senior games.
As a result, 18 players, extending back to the Tigers’ first league premiership in 1920, through to the most recent one in 1980, had Life Membership bestowed upon them at the 2013 AGM.
From the back-to-back premiership sides of 1920-21, there was centre half-back Alex ‘Max’ Hislop, centre half-forward Robert Weatherill and wingman Robert Carew.
A decade on from then, 1932 back-up ruckman Fred ‘Fritz’ Heifner, dual premiership players (1932 & 1934) centreman Eric Zschech and centre half-back Gordon Strang, along with 1934 relief ruckman Bert Foster, have become recipients of Richmond Life Membership.
Ruckman/forward Robert Bawden and his wingman teammate Bert Edwards were the two players honored from the 1943 line-up.
From the drought-breaking 1967 premiership team came half-back flanker Geoff Strang and ruckman John Ronaldson, who also were members of the Tigers’ flag team two years later.
Graduating from the bench in Richmond’s 1969 premiership side, to the back pocket, minding the resting rucks in the Grand Final victory over arch rival Carlton four years later (in ’73), was Rex Hunt.
Three members of the Tigers’ back-to-back premiership outfits of 1973-74 – utility Kevin Morris, ruck-rover Paul Sproule and centre half-back Robert McGhie – had their efforts acknowledged with Life Membership.
And, from the Club’s last premiership in 1980, another three players – back pocket Mick Malthouse, centreman Geoff Raines and captain Bruce Monteath – were granted Life Membership status.
Long-serving Richmond board member John Matthies also received Life Membership at tonight’s AGM. Matthies has been on the Club’s board of directors since January 2004.
