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Reflections of a Rolls Royce Tiger
Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
4:41:24 PM Fri 19 July, 2002
It's 25 years ago today (July 19) that the greatest player I've ever seen in the famous Yellow and Black, announced his retirement after an outstanding league football career.
He played 187 games for the Tigers from 1967-77 and kicked 369 goals. He won two Richmond Best and Fairest awards and twice was the Tigers' leading goalkicker in a season. He was Club captain from 1972-75, a dual premiership captain (1973-74), and a four-time premiership player. He was a Victorian State representative 11 times and an All-Australian rep. in 1969. He is a Richmond Team of the Century member, a Tigers' Hall of Fame member and an AFL Hall of Famer.
He, of course, is the one and only Royce Desmond Hart -- the idol of so many Tiger supporters (including yours truly) throughout the late 1960s and the 70s.
It was on June 19, 1977 that Hart, after courageously battling nagging knee problems for several seasons, decided to hang up his boots.
The Football Record of Saturday, July 23, 1977 reported that "One of the really "greats" of League football in recent years, 29 years old Royce Hart, former Richmond captain and one of the best centre half-forwards we've seen, announced his retirement on Tuesday night . . .
"On behalf of all who love VFL football, we add our thanks to Royce Hart for his great efforts . . . as a fine player in every respect on the field and a model young man off the field . . ."
The man who coached Royce right throughout his league career -- another Tiger legend in Tom Hafey -- remains as lavish in his praise of the champion centre half-forward from Tasmania today as he ever was.
When I spoke to Tommy recently about his superstar left-foot forward of that golden Tiger era, his eyes lit up.
"Royce really was something special and we were just so fortunate to have him around the place," Hafey said.
"He was fantastic right from the start. He played in front like you would not believe, and he just had so many other things about his game that were sensational, like his recovery, his concentration, his coming up under pressure to take the big mark and kick the vital goal right when it was needed. And, he was always having an opposition ruckman falling back on him, which was the style then, to make his job harder. But nothing could stop his brilliance from shining through.
"Some people would question the fact he didn't use his right foot much, but to me, it wasn't really necessary.
"I just didn't see weaknesses in his game and I still use him today as an example for young players to follow. He chased and tackled like Alfie Langer. When the ball hit the ground he was like a rat up a drainpipe -- like Johnny Platten and Kevin Bartlett -- but this was from a key forward!
"And, he was just so professional in his training and preparation. He worked extremely hard on the track and didn't purely rely on his natural talent to get by."
Hafey said that from the time Hart arrived at Tigerland from Tasmanian club Clarence, he displayed an exemplary attitude to his football.
Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
4:41:24 PM Fri 19 July, 2002
It's 25 years ago today (July 19) that the greatest player I've ever seen in the famous Yellow and Black, announced his retirement after an outstanding league football career.
He played 187 games for the Tigers from 1967-77 and kicked 369 goals. He won two Richmond Best and Fairest awards and twice was the Tigers' leading goalkicker in a season. He was Club captain from 1972-75, a dual premiership captain (1973-74), and a four-time premiership player. He was a Victorian State representative 11 times and an All-Australian rep. in 1969. He is a Richmond Team of the Century member, a Tigers' Hall of Fame member and an AFL Hall of Famer.
He, of course, is the one and only Royce Desmond Hart -- the idol of so many Tiger supporters (including yours truly) throughout the late 1960s and the 70s.
It was on June 19, 1977 that Hart, after courageously battling nagging knee problems for several seasons, decided to hang up his boots.
The Football Record of Saturday, July 23, 1977 reported that "One of the really "greats" of League football in recent years, 29 years old Royce Hart, former Richmond captain and one of the best centre half-forwards we've seen, announced his retirement on Tuesday night . . .
"On behalf of all who love VFL football, we add our thanks to Royce Hart for his great efforts . . . as a fine player in every respect on the field and a model young man off the field . . ."
The man who coached Royce right throughout his league career -- another Tiger legend in Tom Hafey -- remains as lavish in his praise of the champion centre half-forward from Tasmania today as he ever was.
When I spoke to Tommy recently about his superstar left-foot forward of that golden Tiger era, his eyes lit up.
"Royce really was something special and we were just so fortunate to have him around the place," Hafey said.
"He was fantastic right from the start. He played in front like you would not believe, and he just had so many other things about his game that were sensational, like his recovery, his concentration, his coming up under pressure to take the big mark and kick the vital goal right when it was needed. And, he was always having an opposition ruckman falling back on him, which was the style then, to make his job harder. But nothing could stop his brilliance from shining through.
"Some people would question the fact he didn't use his right foot much, but to me, it wasn't really necessary.
"I just didn't see weaknesses in his game and I still use him today as an example for young players to follow. He chased and tackled like Alfie Langer. When the ball hit the ground he was like a rat up a drainpipe -- like Johnny Platten and Kevin Bartlett -- but this was from a key forward!
"And, he was just so professional in his training and preparation. He worked extremely hard on the track and didn't purely rely on his natural talent to get by."
Hafey said that from the time Hart arrived at Tigerland from Tasmanian club Clarence, he displayed an exemplary attitude to his football.