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Opinion
Here are the top 20 nicknames of those who have played for the mighty Richmond Tigers.
20. ‘Griff’: Frank McCashney (1909) was a brilliant winger from Trentham who was a great stab kick.
19. ‘Dooley’: Cyril L. P. Lilburne was a half back in the losing grand final side of 1927 and a follower in the runner up team a year later.
18. ‘Basher’: Peter J Williams (1979), a Waverley recruit, made seven appearances for Richmond. A ruck-rover, Williams debuted in Round 6, against North Melbourne. He next played in Round 12, the first of six successive games.
17. ‘Bomber’: Stephen James (1985) was a high-flying left-footer from Waverley who lacked height for a key position but showed great ability around the ground.
16. ‘Tanglefoot’: Jack S. Symons (1934) had an awkward kicking style, but was very adaptable. A big, strong player, he was in the back pocket in the 1940 runner up side.
15. ‘Tenacious’: Frank Ryan (1951), a former Hawthorn Colts winger, was known for his assault on the ball.
14. ‘The General’: A long serving ruckman from Mildura whose career never took off in the way that many people expected. Mark Lee (1977) was 199 centimetres tall, had mobility and good team skills.
13. ‘Swoop’: John Northey (1963) was the quintessential will of the wisp half forward flanker. He was a slippery customer who could cut a side to ribbons if let clear. He later coached Sydney, Melbourne, Richmond and Brisbane.
12. ‘Checker’: Frank V. Hughes (1914) was a fire fly little rover who had a laser-like stab pass and played in Richmond’s premiership sides in 1920 and 1921.
11. ‘Hungry’: The great Kevin Bartlett (1965) earned the nickname ‘Hungry’ as it was claimed he would rather have a shot for goal from 50 metres than pass to a teammate!
10. ‘Leggo’: Well before the famous toy was invented (and spelt with an extra “g”), Leslie Edward Lee started at Richmond in 1913. A big youngster who was tragically killed in Belgium in 1917.
9. ‘Skinny’: Nearly 80 years after he retired, W. Jack Titus (1926) is still the Tigers’ greatest goal scorer. Titus had great pace off the mark and twisted and turned like an eel.
8. ‘The Grey Ghost’: A fine mark and booming kick down field, Jim Jess (1976) also had a mean streak that gave plenty of curry to the opposition.
7. ‘Plod’: A big, strong ruckman recruited from Mt Waverley, policeman Emmett Dunne (1976) was an exceptionally strong mark and played at full back in Richmond’s 1980 premiership.
6. ‘Mopsy’: Don Fraser Jnr (1945) is remembered more for his fiery approach than for his talent, which was considerable, and he was one of the most feared players in the game.
5. ‘The Whale’: One of the biggest men to play league football, Brian Roberts (1971) was said to have weighed as much as 120 kilograms at times during his career.
4. ‘The Swamp Fox’: A tough, strong ruckman from Mirboo North, Michael Patterson (1959) was a fine player in the 1967 flag win after Neville Crow was disqualified.
3. ‘Disco’: Michael Terrance Roach (1977), one of the best full forwards of the 1980s, started his career on the wing after being spotted with Tasmanian club, Longford.
2. ‘Flea’: A lightly-built rover who ranks with the best the game has produced, Dale Weightman (1978) in 1980 was first rover in the premiership team.
1. ‘Captain Blood’: Jack Dyer (1931) is possibly the greatest Tiger of all time. He became the most feared ruckman of his era and was nicknamed after the Errol Flynn pirate movie of the same name.
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