It is entirely appropriate that Richmond has turned to Kevin Bartlett to play a pivotal role in its Fighting Tiger Fund.

 

The Fighting Tiger Fund aims to raise $6 million over the course of the next 12 months, to give the Club the best possible chance of returning to premiership glory.

 

Bartlett will deliver the keynote address at the campaign launch, which will be held at the unveiling of Punt Road Oval’s new ME Bank facility, on March 17.

When it comes to premiership success at Tigerland, nobody has better credentials than Kevin Charles Bartlett.

 

The man known simply by his initials, KB, was a member of five Richmond sides - 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1980 - and starred in them all.

 

Respected Richmond history book, “The Tigers Of Old”, lists Bartlett as the team’s seventh best player in the drought-breaking ‘67 premiership, second best in the ‘69 flag side, best in the ’73 triumph, fourth best in ’74 and, in his fifth and final premiership in ’80, he won the Norm Smith Medal for being best afield, with a scintillating seven-goal display.

 

This was Richmond’s greatest era, and KB’s efforts during that time are indelibly etched in the hearts and minds of those members of the Tiger faith fortunate enough to have witnessed them.

 

With his insatiable ball-winning appetite, explosive pace, and uncanny goal sense, KB thrilled a generation of Tiger fans, as he punched holes in opposition sides and helped inspire the team to victory.

 

Now, 31 years after mesmerising the Magpies in the 1980 Grand Final, Bartlett is throwing his full support behind the Club’s bold plan to restore the roar at Tigerland.

 

He is passionate about the Club he played 403 games for in a wonderful career from 1965-83, and he wants to do whatever he can to ensure the Tigers can once again rule the AFL jungle.