Dick Clay
Encyclopedia
Richard Harold 'Dick' Clay (born 6 March 1945 in Ferntree Gully, Victoria
) is a former Australian rules football
er. As one of Richmond
's greatest players in the post-war ear, Clay was renowned for his versatility, aerial strength and prodigious field kicking, and was duly named in the Tigers' Team of the Century.
Clay began playing football for Kyabram
in the Goulburn Valley Football League
, initially as a forward flanker. But after growing 15 centimetres in six months, he was developed into a key position player.
Although he spent his entire VFL
career at Richmond, Clay was actually signed by North Melbourne in 1964, after former player Les Mogg
saw him in action in a practice match for Kyabram at Cobram. Clay kicked 116 goals for Kyabram that season and was invited to try out for North Melbourne.
Clay made his VFL debut with Richmond in Round 2 of the 1966 VFL season
in a win against Footscray
at the MCG
, lining up at centre half-forward on the great Ted Whitten
. A versatile player, Clay was soon switched to the wing where he formed a revered centreline with Francis Bourke
and Bill Barrot
. As well as playing State of Origin for Victoria, he played in four Premiership sides – as part of the famous centreline in 1967
and 1969
, and at full-back in the back-to-back victories of 1973
and 1974
.
After retiring in 1976, Clay headed to the VFA
where he captain-coached Prahran
in 1977 before returning to Richmond where he served as Director and a member of the Match Committee in 1985.
Today he has retired, and lives on the south coast of Victoria.
Ferntree Gully, Victoria
Ferntree Gully is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in the Dandenong Ranges, 29 km east from Melbourne's central business district. It is in the Local Government Area's of the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the City of Knox...
) is a former Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er. As one of Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
's greatest players in the post-war ear, Clay was renowned for his versatility, aerial strength and prodigious field kicking, and was duly named in the Tigers' Team of the Century.
Clay began playing football for Kyabram
Kyabram Football Club
The Kyabram Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Goulburn Valley Football League . They are based in Kyabram, Victoria.Kyabram were a foundation club in the GVFL and have been one of the most dominant...
in the Goulburn Valley Football League
Goulburn Valley Football League
The Goulburn Valley Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria, Australia...
, initially as a forward flanker. But after growing 15 centimetres in six months, he was developed into a key position player.
Although he spent his entire VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
career at Richmond, Clay was actually signed by North Melbourne in 1964, after former player Les Mogg
Les Mogg
Les Mogg is a former Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
saw him in action in a practice match for Kyabram at Cobram. Clay kicked 116 goals for Kyabram that season and was invited to try out for North Melbourne.
Clay made his VFL debut with Richmond in Round 2 of the 1966 VFL season
1966 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1966.-Premiership season:In 1966, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
in a win against Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
, lining up at centre half-forward on the great Ted Whitten
Ted Whitten
Edward James "EJ" Whitten was an Australian rules football player and media personality. He played a then-record 321 Victorian Football League games for the Footscray Football Club between 1951 and 1970...
. A versatile player, Clay was soon switched to the wing where he formed a revered centreline with Francis Bourke
Francis Bourke
Francis William Bourke is a former Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League between 1967 and 1981 for the Richmond Football Club and coached the club between 1982 and 1983. One of the most respected Australian footballers of any era, Bourke was nicknamed "St...
and Bill Barrot
Bill Barrot
Bill Barrot is a former Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League between 1961 and 1970 for the Richmond Football Club and in 1971 for the St Kilda Football Club and the Carlton Football Club....
. As well as playing State of Origin for Victoria, he played in four Premiership sides – as part of the famous centreline in 1967
1967 VFL Grand Final
The 1967 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and Richmond Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 23 September 1967. It was the 71st annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
and 1969
1969 VFL Grand Final
The 1969 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and Richmond Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 27 September 1969. It was the 73rd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
, and at full-back in the back-to-back victories of 1973
1973 VFL Grand Final
The 1973 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Richmond Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 29 September 1973. It was the 77th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
and 1974
1974 VFL Grand Final
The 1974 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Richmond Football Club and North Melbourne Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 28 September 1974. It was the 78th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to...
.
After retiring in 1976, Clay headed to the VFA
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
where he captain-coached Prahran
Prahran Football Club
Prahran Football Club, nicknamed The Two Blues, is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park in Orrong Road between High Street and Malvern Road, Armadale, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 2007, the club has competed in D1 Section of the Victorian Amateur Football Association...
in 1977 before returning to Richmond where he served as Director and a member of the Match Committee in 1985.
Today he has retired, and lives on the south coast of Victoria.
External links
- Player Profile at Full Points Footy
- Richmond Football Club Hall of Fame