Fox Footy has declared Round 20 of the AFL season “Lefties Round”, as a tribute to the multitude of gifted left-footers, who have thrilled league football fans throughout the decades. Tony Greenberg casts his mind back over half a century of Richmond-watching to select his greatest team of Tiger left-footers.
Firstly, let me explain some of the rationale behind the selection process . . .
I’ve chosen players only from my time as an active observer of the Tigers, which is from 1965 onwards, so that precludes the likes of the Club’s 1948 Brownlow Medallist, champion ruckman, Bill Morris.
And, of the current crop of Tiger left-footers, I’ve included just Chris Newman, given the excellent service he’s provided Richmond in 231 games over a dozen seasons.
If I was choosing this team of left-footers in a couple of years’ time, I’m fairly sure players such as Bachar Houli, Shaun Grigg and Troy Chaplin (relatively new arrivals at Tigerland) would get a gig, but for the sake of this exercise, I’ve named all former Tigers, apart from Newman.
Also, it’s worth pointing out that I had a little help from my friends in selecting this side – a couple of ‘handy’ former Richmond players in Dale Weightman and Matthew Richardson.
The two Tiger Team of the Century members, between them, played with 16 of the 22 players in the star-studded, left-foot line-up, so they’re well qualified to assess their respective talents.
There are premiership players, Jack Dyer Medallists, leading goalkickers and Club captains galore, plus a Brownlow Medallist, included in the Tiger lefties side.
Interestingly, 10 members of this team of Tiger left-footers came from other league clubs – Robbie McGhie (Footscray), Leon Cameron (Western Bulldogs), Ian Stewart (St Kilda), Nathan Brown (Western Bulldogs), Ricky McLean (Carlton), Troy Simmonds (Fremantle), Greg Dear (Hawthorn), Paul Broderick (Fitzroy), Barry Rowlings (Hawthorn) and Graeme Landy (Geelong).
On the strong recommendation of ‘Richo’, I’ve named his teammate of the early 2000s, Leon Cameron, on a half-back flank. Although Cameron, technically, was a right-footer, he kicked more on his left (certainly during his time at Richmond) – and with pinpoint precision.
Richo said he preferred leading to Cameron’s silky left foot, so that’s good enough for me.
A feature of this Tiger left-footers team is its versatility . . .
Joel Bowden and Rex Hunt have been named in the last line of defence, where they both excelled at times throughout their careers at the Club. Yet they could just have easily been chosen in other positions further afield – Bowden having shone in a variety of on-field roles, and Hunt winning the Tigers’ leading goalkicker award in the 1969 premiership year (with 55 goals).
The selection of Richmond’s last Brownlow Medal winner, the brilliant Ian Stewart, in the centre, meant a different role had to be found for another superstar left-footer – Maurice Rioli.
But Rioli fits very nicely indeed on a half-forward flank, with Tiger ‘Immortal’, Royce Hart, at centre half-forward and the ever-dangerous John ‘Swooper’ Northey on the other flank.
That’s a line guaranteed to strike fear into the minds of any opposition.
Overall, I’m confident this Tiger team would more than hold its own against any combination of left-footers that rival clubs could muster.
The greatest team of Tiger left-footers
B: C. Newman, J. Bowden, R. Hunt
HB: D. Kellaway, R. McGhie, L. Cameron
C: M. Knights, I. Stewart, S. Maxfield
HF: J. Northey, R. Hart (captain), M. Rioli
F: N. Brown, R. McLean, T. Simmonds
R: G. Dear, P. Broderick, B. Rowlings
IC: C. Lambert, G. Landy, M. Chaffey, G. Tivendale
Coach: Tony Jewell
