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Wayne Richardson

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domus

domus

Brownlow Medallist
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Mar 31, 2008
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Mooroolbark
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Mooroolbark footy club
My son recently gave me his box set of grand final of the 70's and 80's DVDs. it's been torturous viewing but I can't look away. Aside from being reminded of the brilliance of former players from many clubs there is one bloke who stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb-Wayne Richardson. He has to be one of our most underrated and overlooked players (despite the fact he made our team of the century) he is rarely mentioned in discussions of former greats. In an era when many players bombed the pill every time they got it, and usually with their favoured leg, Richardson delivered the most glorious foot passes with both his left and right foot even when under intense pressure. He had great courage and was an excellent mark for his size. He had high possession games week in and week out. What really impressed me was his performances in the two GF's in 1977. He was never a quick player and at 31 he was considered just about ripe for retirement, yet he continually won the pill against quality opposition and when the heat was on he was right in the middle of the action. He was an absolute gun.
Watching that 1970 nightmare again was so bittersweet. That team has to be my all time favourite. Pricey, Greening, Tuddy, Macca, the Richardsons, Robbie Dean, Thommo…..they deserved a flag.
 
domus said:
My son recently gave me his box set of grand final of the 70's and 80's DVDs. it's been torturous viewing but I can't look away. Aside from being reminded of the brilliance of former players from many clubs there is one bloke who stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb-Wayne Richardson. He has to be one of our most underrated and overlooked players (despite the fact he made our team of the century) he is rarely mentioned in discussions of former greats. In an era when many players bombed the pill every time they got it, and usually with their favoured leg, Richardson delivered the most glorious foot passes with both his left and right foot even when under intense pressure. He had great courage and was an excellent mark for his size. He had high possession games week in and week out. What really impressed me was his performances in the two GF's in 1977. He was never a quick player and at 31 he was considered just about ripe for retirement, yet he continually won the pill against quality opposition and when the heat was on he was right in the middle of the action. He was an absolute gun.
Watching that 1970 nightmare again was so bittersweet. That team has to be my all time favourite. Pricey, Greening, Tuddy, Macca, the Richardsons, Robbie Dean, Thommo…..they deserved a flag.
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I remember all those grand finals and the players you mentioned, Wayne was a star but Max used to get all the attention, Barry price could hit you on the chest from 50 mt away and the ball wouldn't travel more than 4 or 5 meters high, great era but a lot GF losses
 
I loved Wayne Richardson as a boy. While Max was a good player, Wayne was a class above.
There's no way i'm watching the 77 grand finals again, but must admit it's Thommo who stands out in the memory.
 

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domus said:
My son recently gave me his box set of grand final of the 70's and 80's DVDs. it's been torturous viewing but I can't look away. Aside from being reminded of the brilliance of former players from many clubs there is one bloke who stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb-Wayne Richardson. He has to be one of our most underrated and overlooked players (despite the fact he made our team of the century) he is rarely mentioned in discussions of former greats. In an era when many players bombed the pill every time they got it, and usually with their favoured leg, Richardson delivered the most glorious foot passes with both his left and right foot even when under intense pressure. He had great courage and was an excellent mark for his size. He had high possession games week in and week out. What really impressed me was his performances in the two GF's in 1977. He was never a quick player and at 31 he was considered just about ripe for retirement, yet he continually won the pill against quality opposition and when the heat was on he was right in the middle of the action. He was an absolute gun.
Watching that 1970 nightmare again was so bittersweet. That team has to be my all time favourite. Pricey, Greening, Tuddy, Macca, the Richardsons, Robbie Dean, Thommo…..they deserved a flag.
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Yep - those players deserved a flag but my God so did Tom Hafey - coached us for 5 years - GF x 4, PF x1.
Drawn GF in 77,Wayne Harmes 79 :(
Tom you were great for us.
 
TKiL said:
Yep - those players deserved a flag but my God so did Tom Hafey - coached us for 5 years - GF x 4, PF x1.
Drawn GF in 77,Wayne Harmes 79 :(
Tom you were great for us.
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Amazing what Hafey did.
Took us from last in 1976 to a Grand Final in 1977.
Wonder how many other coaches have done this in VFL/AFL?
 
magpie_marty said:
Amazing what Hafey did.
Took us from last in 1976 to a Grand Final in 1977.
Wonder how many other coaches have done this in VFL/AFL?
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Hafey was a great man.
 

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rand corp said:
Great post, Wayne was one of our very best through the seventies and a courageous captain.
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It's strange, but even now, after more than fifty years, having just watched the 1970 GF I feel like that little boy who cried unconsolably that heartbreaking afternoon. I don't think I've ever got over it. God knows how the players feel.
 
jimmy35 said:
Also, could never watch those GF’s again. Was bad enough losing them once 😢
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My son thinks I'm mad, and it does tear my guts out, yet I've continued to watch them over the years. I suppose it's nostalgia and we do so many things right in the GF's there's something to enjoy. However all of the close ones end badly. The pain is real. That's why 2018 hurt so much. When will we ever get over the line in a close GF?
 
jimmy35 said:
My very first favourite Magpie ❤
Class player.
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Magnificent player. I would love to sit with him and tell him how much it meant to me to watch him play. I told Daics face to face at a local footy club function that he used to bring tears to my eyes often with the simple beauty of the way he played. He could have laughed at me or made a joke of it, but he simply looked at me and said, "That's a lovely thing to say." Later that evening he walked past where I was sitting and rubbed me on the head. I was so chuffed. A beautiful bloke.
 
domus said:
It's strange, but even now, after more than fifty years, having just watched the 1970 GF I feel like that little boy who cried unconsolably that heartbreaking afternoon. I don't think I've ever got over it. God knows how the players feel.
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And Bob Rose.
 

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domus said:
Magnificent player. I would love to sit with him and tell him how much it meant to me to watch him play. I told Daics face to face at a local footy club function that he used to bring tears to my eyes often with the simple beauty of the way he played. He could have laughed at me or made a joke of it, but he simply looked at me and said, "That's a lovely thing to say." Later that evening he walked past where I was sitting and rubbed me on the head. I was so chuffed. A beautiful bloke.
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That’s awesome
 

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Wayne Richardson

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