Richmond Indigenous Football Chronology

 
A chronology of Indigenous history of the Richmond Football Club and the Punt Road Oval.
(Researched by Rhett Bartlett, using Trove newspapers, club annual reports, minutes books, oral history, and Trevor Ruddell research)

This chronology contains images and descriptions of people who have passed and refers to events that may be distressing.

Should you have any missing information to provide, please email me.

Pre 1835
The areas now known as Richmond and Yarra Park are a small portion of the land of the Wurundjeri-willam clan of the Woiworung tribe. They are a Kulin people.

1835
The European settlement of Melbourne begins.

1840
Sept- Oct.
Kulin tribes camp in the “Police Paddock” (Yarra Park) before being rounded up and arrested by the police.

1855
The Richmond Cricket Club obtain permissive occupancy of a site in the Richmond Paddock opposite the Royal Hotel. The traditional owners of the land are the Wurundjeri people.

1866
The Aboriginal cricketers from Victoria’s Western District train at the Richmond Cricket Ground (RCG) during the summer of 1866-1867.

Augut 13, 1892
Richmond Football Club  5.7.37 defeat Lilydale District 4.3.27 at Yarra Glen. Lilydale’s team include 3 Indigenous players from Coranderrk station, and "it was very funny to see them play without boots" RFC secretary  John Eastman wrote.

 

July 13, 1911
An Indigenous player from Coranderrk trains with Richmond. He is not identified by name, and The Age publishes the below article “A Football Comedy – Richmond’s “Dark Horse”, which fictionalises his meeting with offensive descriptions and language.
The player was spotted by a Richmond committeeman who saw his name constantly referenced as a consistently good player in a Healesville team.

 

 

May 13, 1922
Discussions are underway to improve the press-box at the Punt Road Ground. The Richmond Guardian writes it would be a shame if it was dismantled as “it stands as a relic of early Richmond and inspires thoughts of the good old days when the aboriginals used to camp near by and delight in jumping on and off the old wooden steps.”

 

September 27, 1922
On their end-of-season trip to Tasmania, the Richmond team visit “the old curiosity shop” at Brown’s River, where they are shown a bullet-ridden skull of a “Tasmanian aboriginal.”
The author of the newspaper article RFC Vice-President Lou Roberts writes that the shop owner told them “the Tasmanian black was the lowest species of mankind that ever inhabited the earth – lower even than the Australian aboriginal.”

April 12, 1924
Billy Muir, a 23-year-old Indigenous player, standing 5ft 4 and weighing 8 stone, from Cummera mission (near Echuca), plays in a Richmond intra-club match. He was spotted by Tiger player Frank Huggard. The Herald headline labels Muir as a “Blackboy”.

 

The Richmond Guardian describes Muir in their headline as ‘Australian Native.’
 
In their article they describe him as “nimble as a cat and as tricky as a monkey”.
(The “pussyfoot” reference is another terminology for teetotaller.)
 

May 10, 1924
Billy Muir plays with the Cubs (Richmond Reserves). He is possibly the first Indigenous player to play in an official Richmond Football Club team, albeit the second team.

October 16, 1924
At the end-of-season trip to Lakes Entrance, the Richmond Cubs visit, unannounced, the Indigenous Reserve at Lake Tyers. The locals play an impromptu match against the Cubs, “it proved a howling comedy from start to finish”, yet win by 6 goals. They host a concert of singing and of music from the gum-leaf band.

Late July 1926
RFC Vice President Lou Roberts, as editor of the Richmond Guardian, writes about the Victorian Team’s trip over to Western Australia. Whilst in Ooldea, South Australia the team see the Indigenous locals and “Allan Geddes’ camera was very busy – he seemed to rejoice in darktown photography.” Roberts then writes a lengthy article on the landscape and locals of Ooldea.

 

May 12, 1931
Alf Egan trains with Richmond, but is then cleared to Carlton on May 14. Egan would become the first Indigenous player for Carlton (1931) and North Melbourne (1934).

April 8, 1939
James Wilkie Egan, younger brother of Alf, plays in Richmond’s intra-club match.
“Played dashingly on the wing, but did not kick well.”
By the end of the month he’s at Ormond FC, later on North Melbourne and StKilda’s list. He served as a gunner in WW2.
Wilkie died in 1966.

August 24, 1940
Members of the Lake Tyers Indigenous football team, who had enlisted in the A.I.F. give a demonstration of boomerang throwing and gum leaf band playing at half-time of the Richmond Reserves match at Punt Road.

June 10, 1944
Former Fitzroy and Northcote Indigenous player Doug Nicholls umpires the Melbourne Boys League curtain-raiser at Punt Road Oval. Afterwards, Nicholls, wearing Richmond’s yellow and black colours, captains the “Boomerangs”, a Victorian Indigenous 18 against a Munitions Team at Northcote. He would wear Richmond’s colour against on June 12 as he captains a combined team of NSW, Lake Tyers, and Melbourne players at Northcote.

April 22 1966
Derek Peardon, an indigenous schoolboy and a child of the Stolen Generation, receives a permit to the Richmond Football Club.

Under 19s Grand Final 1967
Derek Peardon becomes the first known Indigenous player to play in a Richmond premiership; albeit the U19s premiership.

Round 20 1968
Derek Peardon becomes the first known Indigenous player to play a senior game for Richmond. He debuts as a 17 year-old against Melbourne.

Reserves Grand Final 1971
Derek Peardon becomes the first known Indigenous player to play in a Reserves Richmond premiership.

Pre-Season 1981
Adam Pearson, the U19s captain, addresses the entire playing squad and coaches, asking those players who are using a derogative term to describe Phil Egan to stop doing so immediately. Egan would later write “If it didn’t stop, I wouldn’t have played one game – I wouldn’t have gone back to training if it wasn’t for Maurice Rioli, but Adam Pearson started it – he took a stand and that was fantastic”.

Round 2 1982
Phil Egan and Maurice Rioli debut for Richmond against Fitzroy.
It is still the only occasion where two Indigenous players have debuted for Richmond in the same game.

Grand Final 1982
Maurice Rioli becomes the first Indigenous player to play in a Richmond Senior Grand Final. Although the Tigers lose, he wins the Norm Smith Medal (the first Indigenous player to do so).

Round 16 1983
Wally Lovett debuts for Richmond against Footscray.

October 1, 1983
The All-Stars (an Indigenous side) 37.11.233 def a combined Richmond-Sunraysia team 14.11.95 at Sarah Oval in Mildura.
Players of note in the All-Stars team include Richmond players Phil Egan, Maurice Rioli (vice-captain), and Wally Lovett.

Late 1983
Maurice Rioli is selected in All-Australian team

February 16, 1985
The All-Stars (an Indigenous side) 11.16.82 lose to Essendon 13.20.98, in Tatura.
Maurice Rioli is vice-captain.

Round 10 1985
Maurice Rioli becomes the first Indigenous player to captain Richmond in a match.

September 13, 1985
The All-Stars (an Indigenous side) 10.8.68 lose to the Premier’s VFL All Stars 23.12.150, at night match at the MCG. The VFL side was selected by then Victoria Premier John Cain.
There is a significant Richmond connection - Maurice Rioli captains the Indigenous side, while Richmond’s Barry Rowlings captains the VFL All Stars, and Tom Hafey coaches the VFL All Stars. Phil Egan plays for the Indigenous side.
The game was organised by the NADOC committee.

Late 1986
Maurice Rioli is selected in All-Australian team

Round 1 1987
Michael Mitchell debuts for Richmond against West Coast.

Round 5 1990
Michael Mitchell takes a one-handed mark over Fitzroy’s Brett Stephens to win Mark of the Year.

Round 22 1990
Michael Mitchell takes 7 bounces against Sydney at the SCG on his way to kicking the Goal of the Year.

Round 2 1992
Stevan Jackson debuts for Richmond against North Melbourne.

February 12, 1994
The All-Stars Indigenous side, coached by Maurice Rioli, 13.10.88 defeat Collingwood 10.8.68 in Darwin. Prime Minister Paul Keating tosses the coin.

Round 11 1994
Justin Murphy debuts for Richmond against Essendon, and kicks 5 goals, the equal most on debut for an Indigenous player at Richmond (equal with Martin McGrath)

May 12, 1995
In the Reserves match against Melbourne, Justin Murphy is allegedly racially vilified. Mediation settles the matter a week later.

Round 1 1998
Ashley Blurton debuts for Richmond against Essendon.

Round 6 1998
Lionel Proctor debuts for Richmond against Brisbane Lions.

Round 7 2001
Andrew Krakouer debuts for Richmond against Essendon.

February 7, 2003
The All-Stars Indigenous side 19.16.130 def Carlton 8.9.57. Andrew Krakouer plays for the All-Stars

Round 1 2003
Martin McGrath debuts for Richmond against Western Bulldogs. His 5 goals are the equal most on debut by an Indigenous player for Richmond (with Justin Murphy)

February 5, 2005
The All-Stars Indigenous side 12.19.91 def Western Bulldogs 10.3.63. Andrew Krakouer and Richard Tambling play for the All-Stars.

August 1, 2005
The Indigenous Team of the Century is announced with Maurice Rioli selected in the centre.

Round 6 2005
Richard Tambling debuts for Richmond against Port Adelaide.

Round 15 2005
The first Dreamtime at the ‘G match is held.
The combined colours of Richmond (yellow and black) and Essendon (red and black) match the Indigenous flag colours.

Round 6 2006
Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls debuts for Richmond against Essendon.

February 11, 2007
The All-Stars Indigenous side 6.7.43 lose to Essendon 14.9.93. Andrew Krakouer and Richard Tambling play for the All-Stars.

Round 4 2007
Shane Edwards debuts for Richmond against Western Bulldogs.

Round 1 2010
Relton Roberts debuts for Richmond against Carlton.

Round 4 2010
Troy Taylor debuts for Richmond against Melbourne.

February 4, 2011
The scheduled Indigenous All-Stars vs Richmond match is cancelled due to inclement weather.

April 1, 2011
Richmond launch the Korin Gamadji Institute at the Punt Road Oval, with a Level One coaching course.

Round 9 2011
Richmond becomes the first League club to wear a specially-designed Indigenous guernsey. The design was by Jirra Lulla Harvey, a Yorta Yorta/Wiradjuri woman.

August 12, 2012
Prime Minister Julia Gillard officially opens the KGI at the Punt Road Oval.

February 8, 2013
The Indigenous All-Stars 14.6.90 def Richmond 6.4.40 in Alice Springs.

February 20, 2015
The Indigenous All-Stars 5.11.41 def West Coast 7.7.49. at Leederville Oval in Perth.
Shane Edwards plays for the All-Stars.

Round 4 2015
Nathan Drummond debuts for Richmond against Melbourne.

Round 9 2015
At the “Dreamtime at the G” match Richmond wear their 2015 Indigenous guernsey, designed by 14-year-old artist Derek Summerfield, a distant cousin of Shane Edwards.
Derek Peardon, the club’s first Indigenous senior player, returns to the MCG for the first time since 1972, as the “Homecoming hero”.

Round 18 2015
Although not Indigenous Round, Richmond wear their Indigenous guernsey in support of Adam Goodes, who was not playing this week for Sydney, due to persistent booing and abuse from football crowds.

2016
Melbourne Indigienous Transition School opens up a school at the Punt Road Oval.

Round 1 2016
Daniel Rioli debuts for Richmond against Carlton.

October 27, 2016
Xavier Clarke joins Richmond as a development coach

May 18, 2017
Richmond announces the establishment of the Boorimul program, to identify and develop talented young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and maximise their football potential and develop them as culturally affirmed and resilient community members.

May 28, 2017
The Australian Defence Force Indigenous Team play as the curtain-raiser of Richmond Reserves vs Essendon Reserves at Punt Road.

Round 9 2017
Shai Bolton debuts for Richmond against Greater Western Sydney.

Round 10 2017
Shane Edwards wears Number 67 in the Dreamtime match, in recognition of the 1967 Referendum which allowed Indigenous people to be counted in the census.

Round 15 2017
Tyson Stengle debuts for Richmond against Port Adelaide.

Grand Final 2017
Shane Edwards and Daniel Rioli become the first Indigenous players to play in a Richmond senior premiership.

August 29, 2018
Shane Edwards selected on interchange in All-Australian team.

Round 1 2019
Sydney Stack debuts for Richmond against Greater Western Sydney

Round 4 2019
Shane Edwards captains Richmond for the first time.
He is the second Indigenous captain behind Maurice Rioli, 12 games, 1985 season

Round 16 2019
Derek Eggmolesse-Smith debuts for Richmond against Gold Coast.

Grand Final, 2019
Marlion Pickett debuts for Richmond against Greater Western Sydney, and wins his first premiership.
Shai Bolton wins his first premiership. Shane Edwards and Daniel Rioli win their second premiership.

Round 2 2020
Players wear black t-shirts in warm-up as a gesture of "support, unity, and respect, driven by the playing group. We stand in solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters and all people of colour. There is no place for racism.," Both teams also knelt for 30 seconds in the centre before the game begun.

Grand Final 2020
Shane Edwards and Daniel Rioli play in their third Richmond premiership. Shai Bolton and Marlion Pickett play in their second premiership.

February 26, 2021
Richmond’s AFLW side wear their first Indigenous-designed guernsey, in the Rd 5 match v Geelong. The guernsey was designed by Michelle Kerrin, employee of Korin Gamadji Institute.

Round 4 2021.
Rhyan Mansell debuts for Richmond against Port Adelaide

Round 8 2021
Shai Bolton takes a towering mark in the goal-square against Geelong at the MCG.

May 24, 2021
Shane Edwards, Jack Riewoldt and KGI’s Michelle Kerrin design the 2021 Indigenous-themed guernsey. It’s the first time the guernsey has been designed by Indigenous + non-Indigenous players. The guernsey also celebrated 10 years of KGI.

June 5, 2021
The Dreamtime match is played at Optus Stadium in Perth, due to COVID restrictions in Victoria. 1.09million viewers watch the match, making it the highest-rating Saturday night home and away match in 7 years.

Round 18 2021
Matthew Parker debuts for Richmond against Brisbane.

July 19, 2021
Matthew Parker is racially abused on social media.

Round 21 2021
Maurice Rioli Jnr debuts for Richmond against Nth Melbourne at the MCG.

Round 10, 2022 Dreamtime Match
Marlion Pickett helped design the guernsey
Matthew Parker, Sydney Stack, Daniel Rioli, Maurice Rioli Jnr, Shane Edwards, Marlion Pickett, Shai Bolton, Mansell ? Richmond Indigenous players partake in the pre-match War Cry, finishing with the entire team circling them.

July 12, 2022
Richmond players Jack Riewoldt, Matthew Parker, Noah Balta, Maurice Rioli Jnr, Shane Edwards, Marlion Pickett, Shai Bolton, and Daniel Rioli release a video condemning the online racial vilification of Fremantle players Michael Walters and Michael Fredericks

Round 20 2022
Shane Edwards becomes the first Indigenous player to 300 games for Richmond.

Round 23 2022
Maurice Rioli Jnr and Marlion Pickett are racially vilified on social media after the victory over Essendon.

August 25, 2022
Shai Bolton receives All-Australian honours for the first time.

August 28, 2022
Stephanie Williams becomes the first Indigenous player to player for Richmond's AFLW side.

September 1 2022
Shane Edwards retires after his 303rd game. It’s the 4th most games played by a Richmond player.

Round 10 2023
Shai Bolton’s 100th game is played at Dreamtime at the ‘G
Richmond’s indigenous guernsey is designed by assistant coach Xavier Clarke.

Round 19 2023
Matt Coulthard debuts against Hawthorn

September 14 2023
AFLW: Richmond play Essendon in the Dreamtime Match, at the same time the Voice Referendum is defeated

Round 12, 2024
20th anniversary of the creation of the Dreamtime Match
The guernsey is designed by Maurice Rioli and his mother Alberta Kerinauia
Yorta Yorta/Wurundjeri man and Australian rapper Briggs narrates the cultural journey of the pre-match entertainment, other performers include First Nations hip-hop supergroup 3%, Wurundjeri female dance group Djirri Djirri and performers from the Wulumbarra, Koorie Youth Will Shake Spear, Bandok Tati groups and Dreamtime Contemporary Dancers

October 26, 2024
AFLW: Dreamtime Match vs Essendon in Darwin ends in a draw.

Round 24, 2024
Richmond wear the Dreamtime Guernsey against Hawthorn, as Maurice Rioli (who co-designed the guernsey) was injured and unable to play in the Rd 12 Dreamtime match