The trio was honored at a gala luncheon function held today (Friday, August 19) at the Regent Theatre’s Plaza Ballroom.
They became the 49th, 50th and 51st inductees into Richmond’s Hall of Fame since its inception in 2002.
Joe Murdoch was a strong, rugged defender, who carved out an impressive 10-year career at Richmond from 1927-36.
He displayed a ruthless, no-nonsense approach to the game, was a fine mark, long kick, mobile, and a model of consistency.
Those attributes, combined with his powers of concentration and excellent body use in physical clashes with the leading forwards of the day, made him a major asset in the Tiger backline.
Murdoch had the remarkable distinction of playing in six league Grand Finals in a seven-year period with the Tigers (1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934).
He was a key member of Richmond’s 1932 and 1934 premiership sides, although, somewhat surprisingly, he actually played as a half-forward in the ’34 Grand Final triumph over South Melbourne, kicking one of his six league football career goals.
John Northey was a lightly-built half-forward-flanker, who earned the nickname ‘Swooper’ due to his capacity for swooping on the loose ball in Richmond’s forward line and making something happen.
He was the epitome of the opportunist half-forward, needing only a few possessions to swing a game.
Possessing fine ball-handling skills, an uncanny goal sense, and a clever football brain, Northey played a vital role in the Tigers’ 1967 and 1969 premiership sides, before departing Punt Road at the end of the 1970 season to take up a coaching role interstate.
His highest individual goal tally in a league match was eight, which he kicked against Melbourne in Round 8 of the 1968 season, and he scored five goals or more on six occasions during his senior career at Richmond.
He subsequently returned to the Club as senior coach in the early 1990s, lifting the Tigers to their first finals campaign in more than a decade (1995).
Northey instilled a strong team ethos and fierce determination into the Richmond teams under his guidance during a three-year coaching stint.
Matthew Knights was a classy left-foot midfielder, who had a stellar 15-season career with Richmond.
Recruited from Mildura Imperials, in the heart of Richmond’s then country zone, he was still a teenager when he won the first of his two Jack Dyer Medals and he went on to captain the Tigers from 1997-2000.
He had a rapid rise through the ranks at Tigerland, starting off in the under 19s in 1988, progressing through to the reserves, and then making his senior league debut before the season was out.
The highlight of Knights’ illustrious playing career was Richmond’s sensational come-from-behind victory over Essendon in the cut-throat 1995 second semi-final clash, where he single-handedly kept the Tigers in the contest during the first half, scoring three of the team’s four goals, including a five-bounce gem, which ranks right up there as one of the best in Yellow and Black history.
‘Knighter’ was a ‘ball-magnet’, racking up possessions seemingly at will, and delivering to teammates by hand or foot with the utmost precision.
His creativity, along with his ability to weave out of trouble on the field, and all-round silky-smooth style of play, made him a favorite son of the Tiger Army.
Knights is also a member of Richmond's Team of the Century (named on the interchange bench) and a Life Member of the Club.
Profiles of 2011 RFC Hall of Fame inductees
JOE MURDOCH
Date of birth: 30/10/1908
Height: 183cm
Playing weight: 82kg
Recruited to Richmond from: Burnley Church of Christ
Guernsey number at Richmond: No 13
Games at Richmond (1927-1936): 180
Goals: 6
Honors at Richmond: Member of 1932 and 1934 premiership sides; received RFC Life Membership in 1937
JOHN NORTHEY
Date of birth: 29/6/1943
Height: 175cm
Playing weight: 69kg
Recruited to Richmond from: Mortlake
Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 9
Games at Richmond (1963-1970): 118
Goals: 192
Honors at Richmond: Member of 1967 and 1969 premiership sides; received RFC Life Membership in 1970
Coaching career at Richmond (1993-1995): 67 games for 32 wins, 1 draw and 34 losses, highlighted by guiding the Tigers into the 1995 finals series
MATTHEW KNIGHTS
Date of birth: 5/10/1970
Height: 178cm
Playing weight: 79kg
Recruited to Richmond from: Mildura Imperials
Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 33
Games at Richmond (1988-2002): 279
Goals: 141
Honors at Richmond: Jack Dyer Medal winner in 1990 and 1992; Club captain from 1997-2000; received RFC Life Membership in 1995 blog comments powered by Disqus
