As Richmond celebrates the Many Cultures that make up the Tiger Army and broader Club this week, Richmond Media has taken a historical look at Internationally born players and figures in the Tigers’ history.
It took Richmond just one game to field an Internationally born player, with Francis “Frank” Joseph Crohan, who was born in Connecticut, USA, in 1854, a member of the Tigers' inaugural side in 1885.
Crohan, the grandfather of Kevin Crohan, who also played senior football for the Club (one game in 1942), went on to play another four times for the Tigers in the VFA, booting two goals.
The American-born Crohan trailblazed for the likes of current Tigers Mabior Chol (South Sudan), Bigoa Nyuon (born in Kenya to a South Sudanese family), and Akec Makur Chuot (South Sudan) who are also born outside of Australia.
Richmond's inaugural AFL Women's team also featured internationally-born players, with Makur Chuot and Sabrina Frederick (born in United Kingdom) both members of the team.
Frederick became further entrenched in Club history that night, by kicking Richmond's first-ever AFL Women’s goal.
The Watson brothers, Tom, Dave, Joe and William, who all played in a Richmond VFA side against Port Melbourne in 1898, were born in New Zealand, a rare feat of overseas-born brothers playing in the one match.
Dudley George Tong, who played for Richmond in the VFA in 1906, was of Chinese heritage. He later served in World War 1 and is the only known player of Chinese heritage in the Club’s history.
Off the field, Richmond’s most recent and first-ever Premiership Presidents were born overseas.
George Bennett, who was at the helm for the 1902 and 1905 triumphs, was born in Buckie, Scotland, in 1850, while Peggy O’Neal (2017, 2019 and 2020 Premierships) was born in Killarney, West Virginia, USA.
The Club’s 1980 Premiership Secretary, Richard Doggett, was born in London, United Kingdom.
Richmond’s first VFL/AFL side in 1908 was captained by Charlie Pannam, who was the son of a Greek immigrant. Other players in that first VFL team: Len Incigneri was of Italian heritage, and Bill Lang was born to a Swiss-French father and Irish mother.
For a further historical look at notable Tigers of multicultural heritage, see Richmond’s ‘Top Team of Multicultural Tigers’ as selected by Tony Greenberg.
