RICHMOND players, coaches and fans packed the Regent Theatre in Melbourne on Monday night to celebrate the induction of Alec Edmond, Allan Geddes, Billy Barrot and David Cloke to the club’s Hall of Fame.

On a night when Tigers president Gary March predicted 2007 would be the year Richmond “gained respect” from those who “don’t rate us”, guests also congratulated rookies Cameron Howat and Jake King on their elevation to the senior list.

An enthusiastic Rex Hunt helped family members representing Edmond and Geddes reminisce about the club legends’ unique characteristics and footballing skills.

The careers of Barrot and Cloke were also highlighted, and the men themselves took the opportunity to express what they felt the current crop of Tigers needed to do in order to achieve success individually and as a team.

‘Bugsy’ Barrot described his time at Richmond as “energy used up,” saying he trained for as hard and as long as he could in order to obtain “maximum effect” from his body.

Cloke also emphasised the need for hard work to achieve success. He recalled the many occasions when he and his teammates would continue training long after the coach had called time on the session. How a player trained was crucial in determining whether he would fulfil his potential, Cloke said.

2007 RICHMOND HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Alec Edmond: Instrumental in Richmond’s rise from VFA power through to its admission to the VFL in 1908. He played as a defender for most of his nine-season, 126-game career from 1899 to 1907. Edmond was Richmond’s first great on-field leader, captaining the side into five successive VFA grand finals from 1901 and taking the premiership in 1903 and 1905. In his seven years as captain the club never finished lower than third.

Allan Geddes: One of Richmond’s finest wingmen and toughest leaders. His polish, stab-kicking and evasive skills made him a stand-out player of his era. He came to the club from Williamstown and was best and fairest in his second season. The next year, 1927, he took over as captain. He played in a total of 18 finals, including six grand finals and two premierships, in 1932 and 1934. Geddes represented Victoria nine times.

Bill Barrot: Supremely fit and superbly built, he was one of the key players in Richmond’s rise from obscurity in the 60s to become a powerhouse. Bugsy’s ability to break the game open and dash from the centre and pepper the goals with his raking drop kicks became an integral part of Tommy Hafey’s premiership formula. Barrot was best on ground in the drought-breaking premiership season of 1967, and starred again two years later against Carlton on the biggest stage of all. Barrot played 120 games from 1961 to 1970, won the Tigers’ best and fairest in 1965, represented the Big V 11 times and is a Richmond Team of the Century member.

David Cloke: Followed big brother Peter to Tigerland and was best first-year player in the Tigers’ premiership year of 1974. The man-mountain started on the half-forward flank but as he matured, took over at centre half- forward from Royce Hart. In the 1980 Grand Final, Cloke kicked half a dozen goals and, along with KB, ensured the winning margin against Collingwood would be a Grand Final record. In 1982 Cloke captained the Tigers into another Grand Final before heading to Collingwood. He came back and played his final two years with Richmond, ending a magnificent 219-game career (1974-82, 1990-91) with an eight-goal performance against Carlton in his farewell game. Cloke won All-Australian honours in 1979 and slipped on the Victorian jumper eight times.