Former champion centre half-forward and four-time premiership hero, Royce Hart, was elevated to the status of Richmond Football Club ‘Immortal’ at last night's 2008 Hall of Fame function and season launch.

Hart joins Jack Dyer, Kevin Bartlett, Tommy Hafey and Francis Bourke in receiving Tigerland’s highest individual honor.

For a decade (1967-77), Hart thrilled Richmond supporters with his exquisite football talents.  His supremacy in the vital centre half-forward post was a major factor in the Tigers’ greatest era.

Hart played 187 games, kicked 369 goals, won two Best and Fairests (1969, 1972) and was a dual premiership captain (1973, 1974).

He consistently lifted the Richmond team with an inspirational piece of brilliance, just when it was needed, and his match-winning exploits, from the outset of his career at Punt Road, ignited the Tigers.

In other highlights on the night, dual premiership backman Kevin O’Neill and 1980 premiership pair Geoff Raines and Jim Jess were inducted into Richmond’s Hall of Fame.


Royce Hart fact file
Recruited from:  Clarence (TAS)
Guernsey number:  No. 4
On-field position:  Centre half-forward
Games (1967-77):  187
Goals:  369
Premierships:  1967, 1969, 1973, 1974
Captain:  1972-75
Best and Fairest:  1969, 1972
Club’s Leading Goalkicker award:  1967 (55), 1971 (59)
Victorian State representative 11 times
All-Australian representative in 1969
AFL Team of the Century member
Australian Football inaugural Hall of Fame inductee
Richmond Team of the Century member
Richmond Hall of Fame inaugural inductee

Kevin O’Neill fact file
Recruited from:  Echuca
Guernsey number:  No. 16
On-field position:  Back pocket
Games  (1930-41):  208
Goals:  12
Premierships:  1932, 1934
Victorian State representative 10 times

Geoff Raines fact file
Recruited from:  Swan Hill
Guernsey number:  No. 40 & No. 4
On-field position:  Centre
Games (1976-82):  134
Goals:  55
Premiership:  1980
Best and Fairests:  1978, 1980, 1981
Victorian State representative seven times
All-Australian representative in 1980
Member of Richmond’s Team of the Century

Jim Jess fact file
Recruited from:  St Arnaud
Guernsey number:  No. 20
On-field position:  Centre half-back
Games (1976-88):  223
Goals:  161
Premiership:  1980
Victorian State representative three times
All-Australian representative in 1980