At tonight’s 2013 Annual General Meeting, Richmond granted Life Membership status to 18 players, who had proudly and successfully represented the Club in each of the 10 premierships throughout its league football history.  Here are profiles of these premiership heroes.


Alex ‘Max’ Hislop
Born:  25/8/1895
Height:  178cm
Playing weight:  76kg
Recruited from:  Melbourne
Playing position:  Centre half-back
Guernsey number:  No. 29, No. 6 & No. 19
Games (1917-1927):  128
Goals:  4
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1920, 1921
Comment:  One of the best centre half-backs of his era.  Was an excellent mark, had great anticipation, and a fearless attitude.  His brilliant efforts across the backline in the 1921 Grand Final against Carlton were pivotal to the Tigers’ triumph.


Robert Weatherill
Born:  20/7/1897
Height:  180cm
Playing weight:  70kg
Recruited from:  Camberwell Juniors
Playing position:  Centre half-forward
Guernsey number:  No. 15
Games (1917-1923):  72
Goals:  44
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1920, 1921
Comment:  Held down the important centre half-forward post in the Tigers’ 1920-21 premiership wins, despite his slight build.  Renowned for his strong marking ability, and also was a good kick.


Robert Carew
Born:  1/12/1898
Height:  173cm
Playing weight:  73kg
Recruited from:  Middle Park CYMS
Playing position:  Wingman
Guernsey number:  No. 8
Games (1919-1922):  45
Goals:  6
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1920, 1921
Comment:  Was a valuable contributor on a wing in the 1920-21 premiership sides.  Used his pace and slick skills to good advantage for the team.


Bert Foster
Born:  19/8/1906
Height:  185cm
Playing weight:  89kg
Recruited from:  Echuca
Playing position:  Ruckman
Guernsey number:  No. 11
Games (1928-1936):  133
Goals:  65
Honors:  Member of Richmond’s 1934 premiership side; playing coach of the Club’s reserve-grade team in 1939.
Comment:  A powerfully-built player, who positioned his body well in marking and ruck contests.  A strong mark and a fine kick.  Made up for three Grand Final losses (1928, 1931 and 1933) by tasting the ultimate success with the Tigers in the 1934 premiership.


Fred ‘Fritz’ Heifner
Born:  23/8/1909
Height:  180cm
Playing weight:  86kg
Recruited from:  Richmond Districts
Playing position:  Ruckman
Guernsey number:  No. 33
Games (1929-1935):  100
Goals:  19
Honors:  Member of Richmond’s 1932 premiership side
Comment:  A vigorous player, who took on an important protector’s role in the Tigers’ team.  Taught a young Jack Dyer how to look after himself.  Performed admirably in the 1932 Grand Final win against Carlton as a back-up ruckman to captain Percy Bentley. 


Eric Zschech
Born:  19/6/1909
Height:  174cm
Playing weight:  73kg
Recruited from:  Minyip
Playing position:  Centreman
Guernsey number:  No. 25
Games (1930-1935):  102
Goals:  16
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1932, 1934
Comment:  A classy centreman, who was a key member of the Tigers’ 1932 and 1934 premiership sides.  Was a fine exponent of the drop kick and always seemed to use the ball well.  He formed part of an excellent centreline, along with the talented Alan Geddes and 1930 Brownlow Medallist Stan Judkins on the wings.


Gordon Strang
Born:  10/2/1908
Height:  185cm
Playing weight:  83kg
Recruited from:  East Albury
Playing position:  Centre half-back/centre half-forward
Guernsey number:  No. 23
Games (1931-1938):  116
Goals:  108
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1932, 1934; member of the Tigers’ Team of the Century
Comment:  A superb key-position player, renowned for his marking prowess.  Was credited with taking 28 marks in one match against South Melbourne in 1935.  Had 16 marks in a best-on-ground performance against Carlton in the 1932 Grand Final, and was a strong contributor, as well, in the 1934 premiership triumph over South Melbourne.


Bert Edwards
Born:  22/12/1914
Height:  173cm
Playing weight:  75kg
Recruited from:  Sandhurst
Playing position:  Wingman/half-forward
Guernsey number:  No. 2
Games (1938-1945):  122
Goals:  22
Honors:  Member of Richmond’s 1943 premiership side
Comment:  A smart player, who read the game extremely well and displayed an impressive team-first attitude.  Played in the Tigers’ losing 1940 and 1942 Grand Final sides, before experiencing premiership success in 1943.  Was runner-up in Richmond’s 1944 Best and Fairest award and was the team’s vice-captain in 1945. 


Robert Bawden
Born:  28/2/1917
Height:  191cm
Playing weight:  93kg
Recruited from:  Morwell
Playing position:  Ruckman
Guernsey number:  No. 23
Games (1939-1945):  107
Goals:  107
Honors:  Member of Richmond’s 1943 premiership side
Comment:  Spent much of his seven seasons at Tigerland as a ruck back-up to Jack Dyer.  Was also dangerous when resting forward, with his strong marking netting him quite a few goals.  Played in the 1943 premiership win against Essendon and the 1940, 1942 and 1944 losing Grand Finals.


Geoff Strang
Born:  9/5/1944
Height:  185cm
Playing weight:  86kg
Recruited from:  Albury
Playing position:  Half-back
Guernsey number:  No. 28
Games (1965-1971):  88
Goals:  0
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1967, 1969
Comment:  The nephew of fellow 2013 Richmond Life Membership recipient Gordon Strang (and son of the Club’s 1932 premiership full-forward Doug Strang), was a dashing half-back.  He combined pace with excellent kicking skills, and also read the game intelligently.  Frequently turned defence into attack with his strong running and long kicking.


John Ronaldson
Born:  1/10/1946
Height:  196cm
Playing weight:  102kg
Recruited from:  East Malvern
Playing position:  Ruckman
Guernsey number:  No. 2
Games (1965-1970):  59
Goals:  33
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1967, 1969
Comment:  Worked his way up through the ranks at Richmond, from under 19s to reserves, and then seniors.  Is best remembered for his goalkicking heroics in the classic 1967 Grand Final encounter with Geelong.  His two set-shot goals late in the last quarter were crucial in lifting the Tigers over the line.


Rex Hunt
Born:  7/3/1949
Height:  191cm
Playing weight:  97kg
Recruited from:  Parkdale
Playing position:  Full-forward/centre half-back/back pocket
Guernsey number:  No. 43 & No. 5
Games (1968-1974):  113
Goals:  121
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1969, 1973; winner of the Club’s leading goalkicker award in 1969 (55 goals)
Comment:  Started at Richmond as a full-forward, but finished up as a valuable tall defender.   Earned a reputation as one of the best marks in the competition.  Used his strong frame to consistently gain the upper hand over opponents in marking duels, and was also a long left foot kick.


Kevin Morris
Born:  20/8/1950
Height:  180cm
Playing weight:  84kg
Recruited from:  Waverley
Playing position:  Ruck-rover/half-forward/half-back
Guernsey number:  No. 38
Games (1971-1976):  110
Goals:  71
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1973, 1974; Jack Dyer Medal winner in 1975
Comment:  A versatile, straight-ahead style of player.  Was used in a variety of positions during his time at Tigerland and always provided the side with good value.  Had a clever football brain, plenty of skill, used the ball efficiently, was a fine team player, very tough and single-minded in his pursuit of victory.  


Paul Sproule
Born:  16/12/1944
Height:  179cm
Playing weight:  76kg
Recruited from:  Essendon (originally from Hobart)
Playing position:  Ruck-rover/centreman
Guernsey number:  No. 6
Games (1972-1975):  86
Goals:  93
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1973, 1974; Richmond’s senior coach in 1985
Comment:  Had a major impact in just four seasons with the Tigers after crossing over from Essendon.  Was renowned for his prolific possession-winning ability, top-class disposal, goal sense, superb fitness levels and all-round football ‘smarts’.  One of Richmond’s best in both the 1973 and 1974 Grand Final victories.  


Robert McGhie
Born:  18/8/1951
Height:  192cm
Playing weight:  86kg
Recruited from:  Footscray (originally from Tottenham Tech.)
Playing position:  Centre half-back
Guernsey number:  No. 12
Games (1973-1978):  81
Goals:  0
Honors:  Dual Richmond premiership player – 1973, 1974
Comment:  Became a vital member of the Tigers’ 1973-74 premiership sides after being delisted by Footscray.  Established himself as one of the leading centre half-backs in the competition, using his height, pace, long kicking and rugged approach to full advantage for the team. 


Mick Malthouse
Born:  17/8/1953
Height:  180cm
Playing weight:  76kg
Recruited from:  St Kilda (originally from North Ballarat)
Playing position:  Back pocket
Guernsey number:  No. 28 and No. 7
Games (1976-1983):  121
Goals:  10
Honors:  Member of Richmond’s 1980 premiership side
Comment:  Transferred from St Kilda to Richmond just before the then June 30 clearance deadline, during the 1976 season, and quickly established himself as a permanent member of the Tiger team.  Made his mark as a back pocket, negating the influence of the opposition’s dangerous small forwards/resting rovers, through his tough, determined, no-nonsense style of play.  


Bruce Monteath
Born:  20/9/1955
Height:  188cm
Playing weight:  85kg
Recruited from:  South Fremantle
Playing position:  Half-forward/ruck-rover
Guernsey number:  No. 11
Games (1975-1980):  118
Goals:  198
Honors:  Captain of Richmond’s 1980 premiership side; winner of the Club’s leading goalkicker award in 1978 (55 goals)
Comment:  Moved to Victoria to play for Richmond after three impressive seasons at senior level with WAFL club South Fremantle.  Proof of his talent was the fact he slotted straight into a Tiger team that had just won back-to-back premierships.   A highly-creative player, who was a strong mark and had excellent goal sense.  Was captain of Richmond’s 1980 premiership side.


Geoff Raines
Born:  10/8/1956
Height:  180cm
Playing weight:  78kg
Recruited from:  Swan Hill
Playing position:  Centreman
Guernsey number:  No. 40 & No. 4
Games (1976-1982):  134
Goals:  55
Honors:  Member of Richmond’s 1980 premiership side; triple Jack Dyer Medallist – 1978, 1980, 1981
Comment:  One of the classiest players to ever pull on the famous Yellow and Black jumper.  He was a magnificent long kick, especially on the run, a superb high mark, had pace to burn, excellent balance, great evasive skills, and possessed a fierce will-to-win.  Was an outstanding performer in the Tigers’ thumping 1980 Grand Final triumph over Collingwood.