Opinion Former Richmond players that could of been stars but didn't quite get there

[Masotiger]

Was at that wet night caught train on my own my mate bailed out of going ,,,remember it well

I don't remember how, but somehow my mates and I got into the Richmond rooms after that game (probably because we used to sit on the red seats beside the race in the northern stand and were amongst the first near the door).

Anyway, I'll never forget big Neville Crowe, who was President at the time, in the override joy of the occasion grab me by the scruff of the neck in the rooms beside my mates and yelling "Stick with us you campaigners!! Stick with us!!" Good old Neville Crowe, his passion immense. Preaching to the converted Nev!!

 

[tigerdan]

We've had quite a few guys who would have been guns if they'd only played in earlier eras. Usually guys that were either too small or too slow.

A lot of good calls already but I am going to nominate Mark McQueen, probably would have been a gun in the 60s but let's face it, he was a bit of a fat campaigner and slow as a steam roller. Geez we kept him on our list for a while. Nice kick for goal though.

 

[tigerdan]

Yes. Also thought kids like Craig Smith and Chris Pym were going to make it. Pym was front and centre of one of our rare moments of joy in 1988 when as reigning spooners we beat the reigning premiers Cartlon at the MCG on a wet Friday night by 17 points (?). Celebrated like a flag!!

But that era brings me nightmares of watching John Manton, Michael Laffy, Athos Hyrsoulakis..... Stop! Stop! No more!!

Was that the year Crowe flashed a browneye from the stand?

 

[Masotiger]

Was that the year Crowe flashed a browneye from the stand?

May have been. The man loved his Tigers. God rest his soul.

 

[Turka]

I lived Matt Rogers as a kid…297 games …awesome player

It was 197 games, but agree…Very underrated player, and was a key in the ‘95 final vs Bummers…He and (the late) Jamie Tape (75 games) were brilliant pick-up’s from S.A..

 

[wegetpumped]

Ben Griffiths, Dan Connors, Marc Dragacevic are three that spring to mind for me.

Always thought Will Thursfield and Rory Hilton had all the tools but injury got them

Draga was going to be super the guy did his knee very early in his career that's when knees started being the thing. Injuries finished so many great players.

 

[Coxy_]

Surprised Coxy_ hasnt put in a vote for big Gus Graham. The full body cramp ruined the poor bastard. Would have been a really good solid C grade ruckman if not for that

Kept the club alive after Wallet got the sack did Beefcake, probably the best ruckman of his generation. What a ******* rig he had too.

 

[Coxy_]

As for others

Ty Zantuck should have played 200 games had he been fully switched on with a healthy body. Same goes for Rory Hilton.

Coggernought the big one obviously. Near 3 years he went without playing AFL and it ****ed him but was beautiful he eventually got back and played a few games.

 

[wegetpumped]

Mitch Morton was a star in my Premirship Coach 2011 game, would have been a star if Hardwick played him right smh.

(May or may not be serious)

Didn't Wallace stuff him up and went to Sydney Dimma finished him off? I won't have my mate cop that one lol

 

[SunshineBoy]

Phil Egan was a beauty ... fabulous player on his day.
I recall a four or five-week period in '87 when we started him and the Ghost in the goal square up forward and they tore it up.
It was vintage Ghost and Egan was slaying them.
As I recall, probably Jimmy, injured his back, landing awkwardly after taking a great mark and the tandem never again operated out of the square again.
Was lucky to get to know Phil Egan a few years ago and every so often socialised with him.
A wonderful bloke and one who has made a big difference to a lot of people in the indigenous community in northern Victoria and southern NSW.

Remember a mark he took out at Waverley on the outer wing/flank, great bloke

 

[Muddiemoose]

yep wallet was selfish, and flogged him, lids was ready from day 1 but richie wasnt with such different upbringings, wallet had a point to prove and played the kid too much, too early and when he was sore and worn out from injury, lack of confidence and being a very young father with not a great support network.

if he went at 14 instead of 4 and ended up on the eagles list, he may have been a star, rather than a good but maligned 100+ player

How old would his son be these days? Potential father son pick if he plays footy

 

[SunshineBoy]

Why did tempany retire at 25

Asthma

 

[SunshineBoy]

Thought that Stephen Ryan was gonna be some player, same with Justin Pickering , very few of our players kept developing in the 80s , tis whenever some boofhead mentions 80s footy I says stick it where the sun don’t shine , terrible times for the y&b post 82

80s tigers after 82 did my head in so much I went to PNG for 6 years…….lol

 

[Barunga Bullet]

For what it's worth David Bourke's frame probably worked against him. Mark Merenda could do freakish things too, but injury curtailed him

david bourke was pretty much the same as liam mcbean. Both could obviously play but neither could gain any weight

 

[Lacustrus]

david bourke was pretty much the same as liam mcbean. Both could obviously play but neither could gain any weight

Bourke could take an overhead mark

 

[tigerdan]

Bourke could take an overhead mark

Love that one he did on the back of james turd. Huge speccy!

 

[Bojangles17]

Love that one he did on the back of james turd. Huge speccy!

Had that on my wall for years in days when you could literally buy the pic from hs then I framed it

 

[Hank Heavenly]

Clay Sampson, pace to burn, would absolutely eat up todays Fwd50 pressure footy.....

Draga is the obvious other one...

 

[Bojangles17]

As for others

Ty Zantuck should have played 200 games had he been fully switched on with a healthy body. Same goes for Rory Hilton.

Coggernought the big one obviously. Near 3 years he went without playing AFL and it f’ed him but was beautiful he eventually got back and played a few games.

Agreed ,, Shultz too,, said it so often to my mate ,, how is it these guys walk in as AA u18s and walk out broken down bums on scrap heap by 25 ,, not too many proved us wrong elsewhere ,, sarge the exception

 

[Bojangles17]

yep wallet was selfish, and flogged him, lids was ready from day 1 but richie wasnt with such different upbringings, wallet had a point to prove and played the kid too much, too early and when he was sore and worn out from injury, lack of confidence and being a very young father with not a great support network.

if he went at 14 instead of 4 and ended up on the eagles list, he may have been a star, rather than a good but maligned 100+ player

No argument there , real shame , used to do biz in nt and they all revered the young bloke expecting him to be next big thing travelling ‘000s of kms to training

 

[DickieKnee]

David Bourke could never put weight on. Great footballer but I think he ended up dislocating his shoulder every game.

Love that one he did on the back of james turd. Huge speccy!

 

[Lacustrus]

Clay Sampson, pace to burn, would absolutely eat up todays Fwd50 pressure footy.....

Draga is the obvious other one...

Clay Simpson was slower than a wet week...

 

[Hank Heavenly]

Clay Simpson was slower than a wet week...

i dont think so....

There was a Friday night game , im going to say against West Coast, say in 97 or 98... pace to burn, a lot of run down tackles...

No way he was slow

 

[All Aust]

The man who famously did his ACL in the shower and tore a hammy "in bed" if I recall correctly.

Sounds like Cogs gave it a red hot crack off the field too!! Anyone know how she pulled up?

 

[Taylor]

Rumours of her laughing herself to death after he confessed to tearing his hammy are greatly exaggerated