Full Name: GEOFF RAINES
Date of Birth: 10/08/1956
Height: 180 cm ( 5-11 )
Weight: 78 kg ( 12-4 )
Guernsey: 4/40/52
Debut: 24/04/1976, Round 4, Collingwood
Last Game: 25/09/1982, Round GF, Carlton
RICHMOND SENIORS
Seasons: 1976-82
Total Games: 134
Total Goals: 55
Honours: Premiership 1980, Best & Fairest 1978, 1980-81, Victorian Representative Team Games 7 Goals 3, All-Australian Team.
RICHMOND RESERVES
Seasons: 1975-76
Total Games: 19
Total Goals: 15
Honours:
BIOGRAPHY
Geoff played on the wing and in the centre. He was a player who oozed class. He was a magnificent long kick, particularly on the run, a great high mark and possessed the balance of a cat. He had the uncanny ability to keep his feet after landing from a marking contest. He was a clever kick sideways and he used this tactic to pinpoint a player on his own. He could also pick the ball up off the ground at top, pace, no matter which way it was bouncing. He was the complete centreman with exquisite evasive skills, good defensive skills and great determination. He had a great understanding with Michael Roach, and set him up with many goals by thumping a long kick to the goals square where Roach would be left one out with his opponent. It was a great loss when he left Richmond along with David Cloke and Bryan Wood, prior to the 1983 season.
Geoff’s effort in the 1980 Premiership victory, where he collected 19 kicks and 17 handballs may well have won the “Norm Smith Medal” but for Kevin Bartlett’s 7-goal performance. It is an amazing coincidence that in 1980 he easily won the club Best and Fairest award and gained selection in the All-Australian team yet didn’t receive one “Brownlow Medal” vote. Geoff won Richmond’s Best and Fairest award in 1978, 1980 and 1981 as well as finishing second in 1979. He was a member of the All-Australian side in 1980, whilst at Richmond, and in 1985 whilst playing with Collingwood.
Prior to joining Richmond, a clearance dispute arose due to the fact that he had lived in Sale, then in Footscray’s country zone, before he moved with his family to Swan Hill which was in Richmond’s country zone. After some serious negotiating, which also saw Laurie Fowler go to Melbourne, Geoff became a Richmond player. After leaving Richmond he moved to Collingwood, for three seasons, before transferring to Essendon in 1986. He then moved north, in 1987, to join the Brisbane Bears in their first season of VFL Football. This move meant that he had played with three league clubs in three years. He spent three years with the Bears before retiring at the end of 1989. He ran second in the Bears Best and Fairest awards in 1987 and 1988. A schoolteacher by profession he is now a successful property developer and lives in Queensland.
PRE RICHMOND
St Patrick's College Sale Juniors ; Swan Hill 1973-74, Games 33 ( Honours - Best & Fairest 1973, Equal Best & Fairest 1974 ).
POST RICHMOND
Collingwood 1983-85, Games 45, Goals 21 ( Honours - Victorian Representative Team Games 3 Goals 0, All-Australian Team 1985 ) ; Collingwood Reserves 1983, Games 1, Goals 0 ; Essendon Seniors 1986, Games 16, Goals 5 ( Honours - Victorian Representative Team Games 1 Goals 0 ) ; Brisbane Bears 1987-89, Games 59, Goals 20.
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