Two of Richmond’s most exciting young players have become recipients of two of the most revered guernsey numbers in the Club’s proud league football history . . .
The Tigers’ Rising Star of 2010, Dustin Martin, moves from No. 36 into No. 4, while David Astbury, who also shone in his debut AFL season, goes from No. 39 to No. 12.
The significant number changes were announced today as part of the launch of the Club’s 2011 membership campaign.
Four-time Richmond premiership coach Tommy Hafey presented the No. 4 to Dustin Martin, while recently retired Tiger great Matthew Richardson presented the No. 12 to David Astbury.
This fits coach Damien Hardwick’s philosophy of ensuring new players earn their stripes with the Tigers, before being considered worthy of wearing any of the numbers steeped in tradition at Punt Road.
With the arrival of so many young players at the Club via the 2009 National Draft, several prestigious numbers were ‘retired’ for the year, including the famous No. 4 and No. 12.
But Martin and Astbury, on the back of their bold showings throughout the 2010 season, have now been elevated to esteemed number status at Tigerland.
Martin averaged 20.2 disposals per game in 21 appearances for Richmond during the 2010 season, polled six Brownlow Medal votes, won the Tigers’ Rising Star award, and finished fourth in the Club’s Best and Fairest award. He was a revelation in the team’s midfield during the 2010 season, with his strong clearance work and ability to win the contested ball.
Astbury kicked three goals on debut against Melbourne in Round 4, but was subsequently shifted into defence, where he displayed great poise for such a young player. He ended up playing 17 games for the season and being earmarked as a future top-liner, due to his versatility, size, endurance, and all-round skills.
Given that both No. 4 and No. 12 have such an illustrious history at Richmond, considerable thought has gone into the new custodians. The Club is confident the pair it has anointed will follow in the illustrious footsteps of those Tiger greats who have worn the numbers previously.
No. 4 is the only number to have been worn in every one of the 10 Richmond league premiership sides. It was made particularly famous by Tiger ‘Immortal’ Royce Hart, who wore it with such distinction in four premierships - 1967, 1969, 1973 and 1974. Royce’s successor in the No. 4 - Geoff Raines - was a pretty handy type of player himself.
Raines was handed the No. 4 upon Royce’s retirement and he handled the weight of expectations superbly, going on to win three Best and Fairests with Richmond, playing a key role in the 1980 premiership triumph, and subsequently being named in the Tigers’ Team of the Century.
No. 12, of course, strikes a huge chord with Yellow and Black barrackers because of the mighty Matthew Richardson, who wore it throughout his magnificent 282-game, 800-goal career at Tigerland.
But long, long before ‘Richo’ arrived on the scene, a skinny bloke by the name of Jack Titus made the No. 12 his own, playing 294 games and booting a ‘lazy’ 970 goals in it, in a career spanning 18 seasons (1926-43).
Mind you, it’s not just champion spearheads, who have given the No. 12 its exalted status. A rangy, tough, tattooed centre half-back from Footscray, by the name of Robert McGhie, was a key member of Richmond’s back-to-back premiership sides of 1973-74.
In further number news from Punt Road, Ben Nason, who also made quite an impression in his debut season of AFL football, as a hard-running, small, high forward, has moved from No. 47 to No. 22, while ex-Blue, Shaun Grigg, will wear No. 6 in his first year with the Tigers.
No. 4 in Richmond premierships
1920, 1921: Hughie James
1932, 1934: Maurie Sheahan
1943: Ray Steele
1967, 1969, 1973, 1974: Royce Hart
1980: Geoff Raines
No. 12 in Richmond premierships
1920: Dan Minogue
1932, 1934: Jack Titus
1967: Alan ‘Bull’ Richardson
1973, 1974: Robert McGhie
