It is 50 years today that champion centreman Ian Stewart made his debut for Richmond in the opening round of the 1971 season, following a sensational swap deal involving dual Tiger premiership hero Bill Barrot during the off-season.

Throughout the pre-season, there had been plenty of publicity given to the exchange of the two brilliant centremen, with debate raging throughout the football world over which club would get the better of the dramatic trade.

The Tigers had missed the finals in 1970 (finishing sixth in the then 12-team competition) after winning the flag the previous year and were hell-bent on returning to September action in ’71.

Stewart’s signing had reinvigorated the crew at Punt Road and there was anticipation aplenty in the lead-up to the new season.

First-up, was a clash with Fitzroy, who finished ninth in 1970, but had caused the biggest upset of that season, beating reigning premier Richmond in a ground-breaking, Sunday opening round match, played in front of Queen Elizabeth and other members of the Royal Family.

Wearing the No. 2 guernsey, Stewart took his place in the Richmond side for the ’71 season-opener against the Lions at the Junction Oval, alongside Tiger top-liners such as Kevin Bartlett, Francis Bourke, Dick Clay, Michael Green, Royce Hart, Kevin Sheedy and captain Roger Dean.

The Tigers’ rich reservoir of talent quickly slipped into gear, with a six goals to two opening term laying the groundwork for what was to be a decisive victory. 

Stewart’s dominance in the pivot, superbly supported by star wingmen Francis Bourke and Dick Clay, proved far too hot for the Lions to handle. 

The floodgates opened in the third quarter as Richmond piled on nine goals (from 19 shots) to two, before coasting home in the final term to record a 61-point victory.

“Footy Week” magazine rated “Stewie” best-on-ground, he was second best in “The Age”, while “The Sun” had him as the Tigers’ fourth best.

He had 25 kicks (11 of them coming in the second quarter), two handballs and seven marks in a display which had the Yellow and Black faithful drooling.

The Age football reporter at the time, Jim Robb, wrote: “Former Saints’ centre Ian Stewart was brilliant. He started slowly but after he found his feet, he was impassable. His magnificent reflex actions by handballing or tapping the ball to a team-mate often got Richmond out of trouble.”

It was the start of a dream season for Stewie, who went on to win the ’71 Brownlow with 21 votes – three ahead of Essendon’s Barry Davis, Hawthorn’s Peter Hudson, and St Kilda’s John McIntosh. He also took out the Tigers’ Best and Fairest award in his first season at the Club.

Two years later, Stewart played a prominent role in Richmond’s eighth premiership. He injured his leg during the third quarter of the 1973 Grand Final against Carlton and was subsequently shifted from the centre to a forward pocket, where, despite noticeably limping, he managed to boot two vital goals to finish with three for the match. He also polled 17 Brownlow votes that season, further highlighting the success of his trade to Tigerland.

Round 1, 1971 match details

Richmond         6.3       11.6     20.16    22.18 (150)
Fitzroy              2.3       6.6       8.6       14.5 (89)

Goals – Richmond: Bartlett 6, Brown 4, Hart 4, Dean 3, Bourke, Boyanich, Hunt, Moore, Roberts.

Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Stewart 27, Clay 23, Dean 22, Bartlett 20, Dean 19.

Goals – Fitzroy: Murphy 3, Andrews 2, Padley 2, Ruscuklic 2, Searl 2, Irwin, Murray, Newnham.

Leading disposal-winners – Fitzroy: Rhodes 25, Irwin 22, Murphy 20, Ruscuklic 19, Andrews 17.