Rhettrospective- Richmond Football Club.

Footy on the wireless... 80 years ago.

2009-07-07T21:12:00.002+10:00

Rhettrospective.com turns back the clock to the The Argus, on July 12th 1929

where an article appears promoting the 'Wireless Broadcasting Programme' on 3LO for Saturday.

Check out the short 10 minute burst of broadcasting of Richmond vs StKilda and other matches.

(article located by Rhett Bartlett)

Sheedy for Coach.... now where have I seen that before ?

2009-07-06T17:36:00.002+10:00

Sheedy for Richmond coach ?

Well it's De Ja Vu, especially if you recall the time around when Tom Hafey dramatically left the club in 1976.

The article on the left , is a snippet from 'The Age' in late 1976, showing that the club had Sheedy's name on a short list to take over from Tom Hafey.

The eventual coach... Barry Richardson.

Richmond looking for a new coach next season.... try the paper.

2009-06-29T23:21:00.005+10:00

Back in 1933, Richmond needed a new coach.

At the end of 1932, the Premiership coach Frank 'Checker' Hughes left Richmond and went to Melbourne, after the secretary Percy Page lured him with the promise of a job in his printing factory.

So the Richmond Football Club advertised the position of the 'non playing coach' in The Argus in January of 1933.

Attached is the actual advertisement. Former Richmond VFA player Billy Schmidt saw it, and submitted his application, and was elected Richmond coach. He took the club to the 1933 Grand Final, but lost to Sth Melbourne.

He never coached Richmond again.

Polly Perkins passes

2009-06-01T20:48:00.002+10:00

It has been reported to Rhettrospective.com, (by Richmond Historian Bill Meaklim)

that 1943 Premiership player William 'Polly' Perkins has passed away aged 89.

Perkins was the last remaining member of the 1943 Premiership side.

Webpage designer ?

2009-04-26T17:03:00.000+10:00

Hi there.

If anyone has website building capabilities, I would like to hear from you , as I am wanting to relaunch the site to contain multiple pages covering former player details, game stats, reader questions, photograph pages etc.

If you think you could help, please drop me a line to rhettrospective@hotmail.com

Rhettrospective Information throughout 2009

2009-02-08T12:27:00.009+11:00

= Results of NAB Cup and NAB Challenge Matches located here:

http://rfc2009.blogspot.com

= Complete List of all senior Richmond players 1908-Present:

http://rfcplayers.blogspot.com

= Common Historical Richmond Questions, I am asked throughout the season, are located here- questions welcomed:

http://rfcquestions.blogspot.com

(updated February 2009)

= Breaking news will appear on this page, and also my twitter page (and twitter update on the right hand side)

http://www.twitter.com/rhettrospective

E.R.G.E.P project. 1982

2009-01-15T15:25:00.003+11:00

I am slowly uploading parts of my research involving every Richmond game ever played.

As a starting block, I have uploaded the first few practice matches and games of 1982.

They can be located on this link here.

If anyone cant provide a better layout method, or space on their site or something that a project like

this could fit on, drop me a line at rhettrospective@hotmail.com

I just can't see myself creating 100 different blogger pages (one for each year), and at the moment , this idea doesnt seem to complement into a printed book.

Rhett Bartlett

Common RFC Questions

2009-01-08T15:16:00.001+11:00

I have created a blog page which covers common or unusual RFC questions I get.
Should you wish to contribute to this page with a question or answer then email me at rhettrospective@hotmail.com

The RFC Question Page is now up and running.

RFC Players 1908-Present

2009-01-08T13:47:00.002+11:00

A complete list of Richmond Football Club players, in debut order can be found at my newly created RFC Players blog

Photos from the Ben Cousins week.

2008-12-17T18:23:00.004+11:00

For what was is ultimately an historical moment for the club in its history- it was great to see two particular organisations capture the moment for posterity.

Firstly, Mr James Buchanan - a freelance photographer and multimedia expert snapped approximately 120 shots from that day. And can be located at JBPROPHOTO

A Richmond supporter, his decisions to document the majority of the players on film, allows everyone to understand the scope and magnitude of the day.

Secondly, Slattery Media - official photographers of the AFL, have an extensive collection from the day and the press conference at GSP IMAGES

If you have taken any photographs this week, you are welcome to send them to RFC Photos and I will post your photo up (with your credit of course) for all to see.

- Rhett Bartlett

Guernsey Numbers

2008-12-01T21:42:00.003+11:00

Rhettrospective.com has learnt that Tyrone Vickery will receive the Number 29 Guernsey.

It is believe that the remaining new draftees will be provided with guernsey numbers 37 and potentially 27.

NAB Draft in a nutshell

2008-11-29T13:05:00.003+11:00

Richmond select 3 players in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.

Pick 8: Tyrone Vickery from Sandringham Dragons

Pick 26: Jaydyn Post from Western Jets.

Pick 58: Tom Hislop from Essendon FC

Pick 70: Pass

------------------------

It is worth nothing that if Vickery does end up playing League Football , he will become only the 5th Richmond player whose surname begins with a 'V', out of 1,077 Richmond players.
(George Valentine 1924-1926, Stan Vandersluys 1953, Royce Vardy 2000-2003, Daryl Vernon 1981, 1985)

We have had a HISLOP play with us before, Gordon Hislop (1923-1924) and Max Hislop (1917-24, 1927).

Vale Mr Max Oppy

2008-11-26T11:15:00.003+11:00

Max Oppy, one of the club's great rovers, has passed away at the age of 84.
He was one of the last remaining 1943 Richmond Premiership players.

Oppy was born Wiliam Max, grew up in Maryborough and barracked for Essendon.
The great Dick Reynolds was his cousin. In the 1943 Grand Final- Oppy was only 18 years ago, and given the job of tagging the Essendon champion.

If I was given a job to do I would do it to the best of my ability. They talk about taggers or whatever today, virtually that was my job for the day. Didn’t matter where he went on the field, whether he went off the ball, I went to the back pocket. Didn’t matter where dick Reynolds went , it was to keep him out of the play, because at that time he was the match winning rover and probably the best rover of the league at that time. That was the job , to blanket him and keep him out of the game.
Dick got about 6 stitches in his eyes but that was alright, he snuck into my fist. - interview with Rhett Bartlett in Aug 2004.

Richmond won that day, and Oppy was applauded by spectators and the media for his role.
The following year, the Tigers lost the 1944 Grand Final to Fitzroy.

Oppy played 185 games for Richmond, became a Life Member, and was inducted into the Richmond Hall of Fame, on the same night his life long friend, Des Rowe, was inducted. That had met each other when they were 15 years old, when Oppy's Richmond locker was next to his.

His last game of football was Rd 18 1954 vs Collingwood- he was chaired off the ground, and later admitted that it bought him to tears.

He also captained Richmond twice, both times when Des Rowe was unavailable. Coincidentally, both times were against Collingwood, and both times Richmond won.
'My record as captain is the best at Richmond, tell you now' - he told me. He is right- 100% strike rate.

He also coached the club in 1956, replacing Alby Pannam. Oppy coached for just that one year, winning 6 of the 18 games.
As a coach I think Ill forget about it. I always say I am one of the sacked coaches. As Jack Dyer said there’s only two types of coaches, the sacked ones and the ones that are going to get sacked.

In later life, he excelled at golf, winning a club chapmionship, and representated Australia at a Sportsman Event in England, the day after the British Open.

When I met him for our interview 4 years ago, he was living in Sorrento, in a small house , by himself.
He had scrapbooks on the table, easily recalled his first game of football, and was unfazed by a heart attack he had suffered earlier in the year.
After our interview he led me outside to my car, across the road was an old cemetery, no more than 30 metres from his house.
'Look on the bright side Rhett', he said ' when I die, I don't have far to go'

RIP Mr Oppy.

- Rhett Bartlett

Belated Condolences

2008-11-15T16:57:00.002+11:00

I have only recently received notification of the passing of several Richmond footballers during the 2008 season.
So I feel it necessary to list them here with a short bio

1. Mr Frank Hughes Jnr
Frank, was the son of Richmond 1932 Premiership Coach 'Checker' Hughes.
I was lucky enough to meet Frank Hughes in 2003, whereby our interview formed the entire basis of the 'Checker' Hughes chapter in my book RICHMOND FC: A Century of League Football.
You can read Frank's story from page 58- 61

He had a great understanding of the key role his father played in Richmond's history, and Frank himself, played for Richmond in 1944 for 3 games (and later Melbourne 1945 8 games).
Frank accepted his the award for his father's induction into the Richmond Hall of Fame.

He passed away 1 April 2008 at the age of 86 years old.

2. Mr Peter Sherman

Peter died on July 30th 2008 at the age of 83 years.

I interviewed Peter on 27 October 2001 at his home in the Sth East Suburbs.
Of the interview, only 1 paragraph made it into my Richmond publication- page 74, Peter's wonderful description of the physical specimen Dyer was, once stripped in the dressing rooms.

Peter played for Richmond in 1947 for only 2 games. However was a member of Richmond's 1946 Reserves Premiership.
I recall he had wonderful knowledge regarding the Australian Navy, and its role during World War 2.

On a side note, he is the only person I have interviewed, who bought along his own tape recorder for the interview.
His suggestions on how to prepare for an interview (based on his history when creating an oral history of the Navy), is something I am grateful to have learnt.

Richmond FC: 'The Tigers' Publication signed by KB!

2008-11-07T20:06:00.003+11:00

Available for purchase, the reprint of the Richmond Centenary Publication
'Richmond FC- The Tigers- A Century of League Football'

The first edition of this book has sold out, and as a result, a second edition has been printed (but not alot of copies!).
This version includes updated player guernsey numbers at the back of the book.

It will come personally signed with a message from the author (including any special dedication you want) and the signature of Richmond Immortal Kevin Bartlett

A great gift idea for any football or Richmond supporter as we approach Christmas.

This publication costs only $65 (which includes postage and handling anywhere in australia, as well as signed by the author.)

You can purchase the book directly and securely by credit card through the Buy Now option below (via PayPal), or contact me for alternate payment methods at rhettrospective@hotmail.com

Your purchase is safe and secure and I will personally email you to confirm receipt of your payment.
- Rhett Bartlett

Farewell Mr Roberts

2008-10-25T00:47:00.003+11:00

Mr Ken Roberts, who played 58 games for Richmond from 1947-1951, passed away on October 21st at the age of 83.

Mr Roberts played half back flank, was runner up in the 1949 Best and Fairest and won the Best First year Player Award in 1947.
He was a life member of the Richmond Former Players and Official Association.

Mr Roberts also played in Jack Dyer's last game in 1949.

Condolences to the Roberts family.

Richmond's 2009 AFL Draw (click to enlarge)

2008-10-24T12:43:00.003+11:00

(courtesy of the AFL website, and the screenshot capture from my IMAC)

Former Richmond VFA player blogging!

2008-10-07T20:47:00.006+11:00

Imagine , if 100 years ago, we had a former player in the heart of Richmond, who could tell us all that is happening in the great place of Tigerland.

Well wish no more- a tongue in cheek look, as the mighty Jack Hutchison (Richmond VFA goalkicking machine and premiership player) has agreed to keep us all in touch with the latest Richmond news from 1908-1909. (yes cash did exchange hands)

Everyday check his latest entry out at: http://twitter.com/tigerland

RFC Season 2008 Season in Review- Part 2

2008-10-04T20:28:00.002+10:00

(the audio may need to buffer for a minute once Play is pressed.)

RFC 2008 Season in Review Podcast- Part 1

2008-10-02T18:21:00.000+10:00

(the audio may need to buffer for a minute once Play is pressed.)

Part 2 will be available online in the coming days.

Scarlett as KB.

2008-10-01T17:38:00.002+10:00

For those who missed it.
Matthew Scarlett, shaved his head , simliar to Dave Lawson in the Toyota Ad- to look like my old man, KB. Scarlett showed off his new haircut at Mad Monday- two days after the Grand Final.

Richmond wins 2008 Grand Final Sprint

2008-09-27T16:11:00.005+10:00

Matthew White wins the 2008 Grand Final sprint off scratch.
Below is a screen capture of the finish (courtesy of Channel 7 + EyeTV) and a video of the race and post match interview (courtesy and copyrighted by Channel 7)

KB Toyota Ad Little Known Fact 3

2008-09-27T13:31:00.002+10:00

The recreation of the Stan Magro goal from 1980- resulted in Stphen Curry wearing a Magro wig.
KB was unaware that Curry had put the wig on , until he saw the ad on tv one month later.

KB Toyota Ad Little Known Fact 2

2008-09-27T13:20:00.004+10:00

Little Known Fact 2- the first few hours of the shoot , KB was wearing dark runners, This resulted in him straining both hamstrings, and as a result a pair of old footy boots were located, and the manufacturers logo was 'taped over'.

KB Toyota Ad Little Known Fact 1.

2008-09-27T13:16:00.003+10:00

Some snapshots from the Toyota Ad (courtesy of my EyeTV on my IMAC)

Little known Fact #1- KB's reaction to Dave Lawson shaving off his hair- is authentic. KB was unaware of what Dave was doing until the cameras rolled. At first KB thought the hair was a wig.