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AFL Top 100: Two Tigers' captains slip down the list

Alex Rance, the Tigers' true superstar. (Photo: Justine Walker/AFL Media)
Roar Guru
21st March, 2018
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On top of the unique achievement of retaining every player who played in the 2017 premiership, Richmond currently has seven of their eight top 100 all-time matches played leaders competing in Round 1.

After the matches, two of those seven will either equal or pass two of the most well known Tiger skippers of all time: Des Rowe (1952-1957) and Neville Crowe (1963-1966).

Rowe will be passed by champion defender Alex Rance who will move to 44th on the Tiger’s list. Rowe was the son of Collingwood star Percy Rowe, who coached him at Coburg prior to Des’ debut at Richmond.

On the Richmond squad, Des was a tough half back who won the club’s Best and Fairest (the Dyer medal) in 1951 and 1957. Eventually, he coached the club from 1961 to 1963.

Neville Crowe finished his career at Richmond after exactly 150 games – the milestone that Shaun Grigg will achieve when he steps out on the ‘G in Round 1.

Also on that milestone is the diminutive rover Clarrie Hall who would have played more games if he had not returned to VFA club Prahran for three years during the middle of his career.

Although – at 160cm and 54kg – he just misses out on shortest and lightest AFL players of all time. He was a star in Richmond’s first flag in 1920 and played again in the winning 1921 grand final team.

Bachar Houli – if not out, injured – would have passed a third former captain in Jeff Hogg who – the year after he was appointed captain (1993) – moved to Fitzroy over a pay dispute and played there for a further three years.

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Houli would not have only passed him in Round 1, but also Scott Turner, who had returned to Ararat after being dumped by Melbourne – but played for Richmond from mid-1990.

Meanwhile, Branden Ellis continues his outstanding effort of over 100 games in succession and will equal Michael Pickering this.

The two other Tiger achievers this round are number 25 Shane Edwards who will pass Darren Gasper, and number 28 Trent Cotchin. Cotchin will equal Basil McCormack who was born in 1904 and a member of the 1932 and 1934 premiership teams, playing in a staggering five losing grand finals!

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