Yep, Lambert was a really good rover who defied the logic that you had to be big bodied to be able to throw yourself into the bottom of packs and come out with the ball.
Lambert started at Richmond in 1987, I believe, where he played in our losing U19 Grand Final side, along with Tony Free.
Free made his senior debut in the last couple of H&A games in 87, Lambert debuted at the beginning of 1988. Lambert learnt an amazing amount about roving from his coach, over his first 4 years of senior football, in Kevin Bartlett. He proved himself a fearless rover although only 5'10" and as skinny as his mentor Bartlett.
One of the lessons he learnt with Bartlett is that loyalty should always be bilateral. Bartlett had explained his thoughts on the lack of loyalty shown by the Tiger Board toward Hafey at the end of 1976. When Bartlett's contract was not renewed at the end of 1991, doubts started creeping into Lambert's mind. At the end of the 1993 season, he had heard rumours that the Tigers were going to trade him. He thought no smoke without fire.
He'd spent most of his career playing with the cellar-dwelling Tigers, so moving to the then cellar-dwelling Bears did not pose a problem. He did. And there you have the answer to your question.
Lambert's arrival at the Bears timed extremely well with the their movement up the ladder. No coincidence there.
Northey's departure was a bit more complicated. To say that the mind of John Northey is extremely complicated is an understatement. It was a brilliant football mind, but like all geniuses, he had his equally extreme flaws. I say no more, but, he left Melbourne, Richmond and also the Bears under similar circumstances.