12:01:19 AM Sun 20 July, 2003
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
Richmond’s most successful coach and its longest serving player were bestowed the club’s greatest honor on Saturday night – named as club ‘immortals’ alongside the incomparable Jack Dyer.
Tom Hafey and Kevin Bartlett – two of the men primarily responsible for the Tigers’ greatest era of success between 1967-74 – were elevated from Hall of Fame status to sit alongside the incomparable ‘Captain Blood’ at a gala dinner in Melbourne on Saturday night.
The two were among 24 inaugural Hall of Fame inductees last year with Dyer named as the club’s inaugural immortal.
Eight new players were also inducted into the Tigers’ Hall of Fame on Saturday night, covering virtually every era of the club’s history since it first joined the then VFL in 1908.
This group was led by another of Richmond’s greatest coaches in Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes as well as Richard ‘*smile*’ Harris, Barry Richardson, Michael Green, Basil McCormack, Des Rowe, Max Oppy and Barney Herbert, a star of Richmond’s inaugural decade in the VFL.
However it Richmond’s golden era, when it won four premierships between 1967-74, that dominated the evening highlighted by the elevation to immortal status of Hafey and Bartlett.
And while Bartlett – whose stand-off with the club since he was sacked as coach after four unsuccessful seasons in charge in 1991 has been much-publicised – his elevation to immortal status was well-received by the Tiger faithful.
Bartlett - who did not accept his award in person instead sending son Rhett as he maintains his refusal to attend any club functions - played in five premiership sides for the Tigers.
One of only two men in the history of the game to play 400 games - the other being Hawthorn’s Michael Tuck - Bartlett played in his first four premierships sides in 1967, 69, 73 and 74 under Hafey before starring as a 33-year-old in the 1980 premiership under the coaching of Tony Jewell.
During that finals series the then 33-year-old, nicknamed ‘Hungry’ because of his appetite for the goals, kicked 21 goals - including seven in the then record 81-point demolition of Collingwood in the grand final to win the Norm Smith Medal for best afield.
After retiring at the end of 1983 with a club-record 403 games to his name, Bartlett was appointed coach of Richmond in 1988 during a difficult era for the club when it was beset by financial problems and had an inexperienced side.
But after the team finished 10th, 14th, 11th and 13th during his four years in charge he was replaced by Allan Jeans for the 1992 season and sadly has still not forgiven the club - even though he remains the club’s equal longest serving coach since the club’s last premiership win in 1980.
Hafey’s career at Richmond is the opposite of Bartlett, who made his name as a player but struggled as a coach.
While Hafey’s playing career was restricted to just 67 games between 1953-58, it was as a coach that he made his name and ensured his immortal status alongside Bartlett and Dyer.
After leaving Richmond he coached at Shepparton in country Victoria and led them to three premierships.
He became coach of Richmond in 1966 at a time when the club had not even made the finals for 19 years.
By his second season in charge the Tigers were not only back in the finals but won their first premiership in nearly a quarter of a century – a thrilling nine-point win over Geelong at the MCG.
Three more premierships – 1969, 73 and 74, would follow in the next seven years as Hafey built a side that was adored by Tiger fans and loathed by opposition clubs for their ferocious style of play.
Hafey, a renowned fitness fanatic himself who even just short of his 72nd birthday maintains a strict health regime, built his success around a no-frills game plan and his ability to motivate his talented team.
With arguably the game’s greatest centre-half-forward Royce Hart in his ranks, Hafey ordered his players to kick the ball long at all times and play with maximum intensity but with minimum ball use to eliminate mistakes.
His calls of ‘no bloody finessing’ are part of Richmond folklore and these tactics, alongside his strict discipline and ability to lift his team with his inspirational speeches, proved to be the perfect recipe for success.
The ultimate tribute to Hafey’s success as a coach and his impact on Richmond can be seen by the club’s record before, during and after his time as coach.
Before Hafey took over as coach the club has not made the finals for 19 years and since he left as coach in 1976, the club has won just one premiership and made the finals only five times.
Yet during his 11 years as coach, the Tigers not only won four premierships but made the finals on seven occasions.
The list of inductees to the Hall of Fame was led by another of the Tigers’ greatest coaches in Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes.
Hughes not only played in the Tigers’ first two VFL premiership sides in 1920-21 but coached the Tigers into six grand finals, winning them the premiership in 1932.
Two more players from Hafey’s golden era in charge were also honoured in Michael Green and Barry Richardson while two champion players of the late 1940s and 50s Max Oppy and Des Rowe were recognised.
The star of Richmond’s 1943 premiership win and the man that was known as ‘Hungry’ long before Kevin Bartlett – *smile* Harris – was also inducted as were two champions of the Tigers’ early years – Basil McCormack and Barney Herbert.
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
Richmond’s most successful coach and its longest serving player were bestowed the club’s greatest honor on Saturday night – named as club ‘immortals’ alongside the incomparable Jack Dyer.
Tom Hafey and Kevin Bartlett – two of the men primarily responsible for the Tigers’ greatest era of success between 1967-74 – were elevated from Hall of Fame status to sit alongside the incomparable ‘Captain Blood’ at a gala dinner in Melbourne on Saturday night.
The two were among 24 inaugural Hall of Fame inductees last year with Dyer named as the club’s inaugural immortal.
Eight new players were also inducted into the Tigers’ Hall of Fame on Saturday night, covering virtually every era of the club’s history since it first joined the then VFL in 1908.
This group was led by another of Richmond’s greatest coaches in Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes as well as Richard ‘*smile*’ Harris, Barry Richardson, Michael Green, Basil McCormack, Des Rowe, Max Oppy and Barney Herbert, a star of Richmond’s inaugural decade in the VFL.
However it Richmond’s golden era, when it won four premierships between 1967-74, that dominated the evening highlighted by the elevation to immortal status of Hafey and Bartlett.
And while Bartlett – whose stand-off with the club since he was sacked as coach after four unsuccessful seasons in charge in 1991 has been much-publicised – his elevation to immortal status was well-received by the Tiger faithful.
Bartlett - who did not accept his award in person instead sending son Rhett as he maintains his refusal to attend any club functions - played in five premiership sides for the Tigers.
One of only two men in the history of the game to play 400 games - the other being Hawthorn’s Michael Tuck - Bartlett played in his first four premierships sides in 1967, 69, 73 and 74 under Hafey before starring as a 33-year-old in the 1980 premiership under the coaching of Tony Jewell.
During that finals series the then 33-year-old, nicknamed ‘Hungry’ because of his appetite for the goals, kicked 21 goals - including seven in the then record 81-point demolition of Collingwood in the grand final to win the Norm Smith Medal for best afield.
After retiring at the end of 1983 with a club-record 403 games to his name, Bartlett was appointed coach of Richmond in 1988 during a difficult era for the club when it was beset by financial problems and had an inexperienced side.
But after the team finished 10th, 14th, 11th and 13th during his four years in charge he was replaced by Allan Jeans for the 1992 season and sadly has still not forgiven the club - even though he remains the club’s equal longest serving coach since the club’s last premiership win in 1980.
Hafey’s career at Richmond is the opposite of Bartlett, who made his name as a player but struggled as a coach.
While Hafey’s playing career was restricted to just 67 games between 1953-58, it was as a coach that he made his name and ensured his immortal status alongside Bartlett and Dyer.
After leaving Richmond he coached at Shepparton in country Victoria and led them to three premierships.
He became coach of Richmond in 1966 at a time when the club had not even made the finals for 19 years.
By his second season in charge the Tigers were not only back in the finals but won their first premiership in nearly a quarter of a century – a thrilling nine-point win over Geelong at the MCG.
Three more premierships – 1969, 73 and 74, would follow in the next seven years as Hafey built a side that was adored by Tiger fans and loathed by opposition clubs for their ferocious style of play.
Hafey, a renowned fitness fanatic himself who even just short of his 72nd birthday maintains a strict health regime, built his success around a no-frills game plan and his ability to motivate his talented team.
With arguably the game’s greatest centre-half-forward Royce Hart in his ranks, Hafey ordered his players to kick the ball long at all times and play with maximum intensity but with minimum ball use to eliminate mistakes.
His calls of ‘no bloody finessing’ are part of Richmond folklore and these tactics, alongside his strict discipline and ability to lift his team with his inspirational speeches, proved to be the perfect recipe for success.
The ultimate tribute to Hafey’s success as a coach and his impact on Richmond can be seen by the club’s record before, during and after his time as coach.
Before Hafey took over as coach the club has not made the finals for 19 years and since he left as coach in 1976, the club has won just one premiership and made the finals only five times.
Yet during his 11 years as coach, the Tigers not only won four premierships but made the finals on seven occasions.
The list of inductees to the Hall of Fame was led by another of the Tigers’ greatest coaches in Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes.
Hughes not only played in the Tigers’ first two VFL premiership sides in 1920-21 but coached the Tigers into six grand finals, winning them the premiership in 1932.
Two more players from Hafey’s golden era in charge were also honoured in Michael Green and Barry Richardson while two champion players of the late 1940s and 50s Max Oppy and Des Rowe were recognised.
The star of Richmond’s 1943 premiership win and the man that was known as ‘Hungry’ long before Kevin Bartlett – *smile* Harris – was also inducted as were two champions of the Tigers’ early years – Basil McCormack and Barney Herbert.
