Richmond’s recruiting of Shaun Hampson from Carlton, during the AFL’s recently-completed trade period, prompted Tony Greenberg to reflect on several other Blues-turned-Tigers during his time as a Yellow and Black devotee over the past half-century . . .

The first player I can recall departing Princes Park, for greener pastures at Punt Road, was Ricky McLean.

McLean, the son of dual Carlton premiership player of the 1930s-40s, Rod McLean, had been starved of senior action in his time with the Blues, having made just 19 appearances in seven seasons, mainly due to injuries and suspensions.

He was a powerfully-built full-forward, who thrived on the physical aspects of the game, but that, too frequently, led to problems with umpires and, subsequently, the tribunal.

With the Carlton side of the early 1970s boasting forwards of the calibre of Alex Jesaulenko, Robert Walls, David McKay and Syd Jackson, McLean decided to try his luck elsewhere.

Working class Richmond and the rough’n’ready Ricky McLean were a perfect match.

McLean arrived at Punt Road in 1972 and quickly formed a fearsome, double-pronged Tiger attack with fellow strongman Neil Balme.

As well as his trademark toughness, McLean possessed a fair bit of playing ability . . .  He was Richmond’s equal leading goalkicker, with 55, in his debut season at the Club, and was a member of the Tiger Grand Final team that year, that lost to his old side Carlton in a goal frenzy. Unfortunately, McLean tore his hamstring during the first half of the ’72 GF and spent the entire second half on the pine.

McLean ended up playing 39 senior games with Richmond from 1972-76 (with one year in between spent at Tasmanian club Burnie) and booted 103 goals with his trusty left foot.

His last year at Richmond, coincided with the first in Tiger colors of another ex-Blue in Graeme Robertson, who had spent five frustrating seasons at Princes Park, for a return of just nine senior games.

Robertson was easily recognisable out on the field, not only because of his height (197cm), but also due to the fact he always sported a crew-cut. 

The tall defender chalked up 51 senior games with Richmond, in two separate stints at the Club from 1976-81, including the Tigers’ 1977 finals campaign (the elimination final win against South Melbourne and the first semi-final loss to North Melbourne).

He was a solid contributor during his time at Tigerland, with his capacity to match up on the opposition’s bigger forwards.

Dennis Collins had started his league career at Footscray, playing 100 games for the Bulldogs, before joining Carlton in 1978.

The wingman then had 30 games with the Blues, until the end of the ‘79 season, when he was lured to Richmond.

Collins had two distinguishing features on the field – lightning pace, and a thick, dark beard.

He played some fine football in 17 games for the Tigers throughout 1980 and was considered unlucky not to have been included in the Club’s premiership side that year, named as one of the three emergencies.

Peter Francis, a star in Carlton’s 1979 premiership triumph over Collingwood, found his way to Punt Road via Fitzroy, where he spent three seasons in the early 1980s.

Francis was a skilful, versatile ball-magnet, who provided Richmond with useful service in a 52-game career over three seasons.

He had 20 disposals or more 11 times in his 1984 debut season at Tigerland.

The following year, Francis racked up the highest disposal tally in his time with the Tigers – 30 against his old team Carlton in a Round 19 clash at the MCG.

David Honybun was enticed to Tigerland by Club ‘Immortal’, Kevin Bartlett, when he took over as the Club’s coach in late 1987. 

Bartlett was desperate to bolster the Tigers’ big-man stocks and set his sights on Honybun, who had managed just five senior games in two years at Carlton during the mid-1980s. 

Honybun had a brief spell at North Melbourne after leaving the Blues, before crossing Bass Strait to play for Tasmanian club East Devonport.

KB’s powers of persuasion won the day and Honybun agreed to have another crack at league football, with Richmond.

With his strength, marking prowess, long kicking, and courage, Honybun turned out to be a valuable addition to the young Tiger team. 

During the 1990 season, he was moved to the forward line, where he became a strong focal point for the Tigers.  He booted 19 goals in an impressive six-week stretch, including a career-high, match-winning six-goal effort against his old club, Carlton, in the Round 10 clash at the MCG.

Honybun’s career at Richmond was cut short by a severe back injury and he retired from league football in 1992.

Ian Herman was a skilful half-forward/ruck-rover, picked up by Richmond in the 1992 mid-season draft, following a 48-game stint at Carlton.

The best of Herman’s 14 games with the Tigers was his first – Round 16 of the 1992 season against Collingwood at Victoria Park.

Herman had 32 disposals that day, kicked two goals, and was a shining light in a 10-goal Tiger loss.

He averaged 21 disposals in the nine games he played for Richmond throughout the second half of that ’92 season and seemed set to become a senior regular with the Tigers for a few years.

But his form tapered off in 1993, with five senior appearances producing an average of just over eight disposals per game, and he was gone from Tigerland at the end of that season.

Chris Bond switched from Carlton to Richmond in the early 1990s, after struggling to cement himself as a senior regular in three seasons with the Blues.

He had an instant impact at Tigerland, due to his hard running, tenacity, courage, good skills, clever football brain, and exemplary attitude.

In just his second season with Richmond (1994), Bond won the Jack Dyer Medal, as the Club’s Best and Fairest player.

All-up, he played 100 games for the Tigers in just five seasons and was a model of consistency.

Ben Harrison had grown up in Tasmania with Tiger superstar Matthew Richardson as his best mate.

‘Harro’ followed ‘Richo’ over to the mainland after being drafted by Carlton at the end of 1994.

He made his senior league debut with the Blues in 1995, but played only two games that season, before being reunited with Richo at Richmond in 1996.

A strong, versatile, hard-working player, Harrison established himself as a permanent member of the Tiger team from midway through 1997 until the end of the 2000 season, filling roles as a full-back, half-back, wingman, on-baller and forward.

Shaun Grigg has had a significant impact in just three years at Tigerland.

After managing just 43 senior games with Carlton in four seasons, Grigg, seeking greater opportunities, joined Richmond during the league’s 2010 trade period, in exchange for Andrew Collins. 

The hard-running midfielder settled in extremely well at his new football home, averaging 22 disposals per match in 21 appearances throughout his debut season with the Tigers, and finishing a creditable 10^th in the Jack Dyer Medal.

Then, in 2012, Grigg took his game to an even higher level . . .

He averaged 25.5 disposals per match, kicked a personal career-high season’s tally of 18 goals, finished fifth in the Jack Dyer Medal and polled 11 votes in the Brownlow Medal.

This year, Grigg again was a valuable contributor for Richmond, averaging 21 disposals and six marks per game, and clinching his third Jack Dyer Medal top-10 placing in three years at the Club (ninth).
 

Blues-turned-Tigers Fact Files

(in alphabetical order) 

Chris Bond

Born:  26/1/69

Height:  178cm

Playing weight:  81kg

Games at Carlton (1990-92):  22

Goals at Carlton:  8

Honors at Carlton:  Member of the Blues’ 1990 reserve-grade premiership side

Games at Richmond (1993-97):  100

Goals at Richmond:  32

Honors at Richmond:  Winner of the 1994 Jack Dyer Medal as the Club’s Best and Fairest player

Dennis Collins

Born:  17/5/53

Height:  177cm

Playing weight:  80.5kg

Games at Carlton (1978-79):  30

Goals at Carlton:  12

Games at Richmond (1980):  17

Goals at Richmond:  2

Peter Francis

Born:  16/1/58

Height:  185cm

Playing weight:  83kg

Games at Carlton (1979-81):  47

Goals at Carlton:  17

Honors at Carlton:  Member of the Blues’ 1979 premiership side

Games at Richmond (1984-86):  52

Goals at Richmond:  23

Shaun Grigg

Born:  19/4/88

Height:  190cm

Weight:  85kg

Games at Carlton (2007-10):  43

Goals at Carlton:  10

Games at Richmond (2011-13):  66

Goals at Richmond:  39

Ben Harrison

Born:  17/1/75

Height:  191cm

Playing weight:  96kg

Games at Carlton (1995):  2

Goals at Carlton:  0

Games at Richmond (1996-00):  74

Goals at Richmond:  39

Ian Herman

Born:  11/10/65

Height:  183cm

Playing weight:  78kg

Games at Carlton (1987-91):  48

Goals at Carlton:  38

Games at Richmond (1992-93):  14

Goals at Richmond:  6

David Honybun

Born:  3/4/62

Height:  196cm

Playing weight:  91kg

Games at Carlton (1984):  5

Goals at Carlton:  2

Games at Richmond (1988-92):  55

Goals at Richmond:  39

Ricky McLean

Born:  8/11/47

Height:  185cm

Playing weight:  92kg

Games at Carlton (1966-67 & 1969-71):  19

Goals at Carlton:  35

Games at Richmond (1972-74 & 1976):  39

Goals at Richmond:  103

Honors at Richmond:  Equal winner of the Club’s Leading Goalkicker award in 1972 ( 55 goals)

Graeme Robertson

Born:  25/9/52

Height:  197cm

Playing weight:  86kg

Games at Carlton (1974-75):  9

Goals at Carlton:  2

Games at Richmond (1976-77, 1979 & 1981):  51

Goals at Richmond:  1