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SIXTIES FOOTBALL LEGENDS
(Click pictures to enlarge)
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As a player Royce Hart was inspirational and always prepared to sacrifice his body for the side. Such was his commitment that he expected concussion at least six times each season. A strong mark, Royce would float across the front of a pack to mark rather than run straight at the ball. However, it was not uncommon for him to run backwards into a pack to mark and his unusual marking style made it difficult for opponents to punch the ball away. He was a long accurate left foot kick and also possessed very good skills once the ball hit the ground.
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Born a Tasmanian farmer’s son, Royce starred for Clarence Under 19s and in the state schoolboys’ team. Spotted by a local Richmond scout in 1965, Richmond got Royce Hart from Clarence for a bargain - a new suit, six shirts and a pair of shoes and 20 pounds of spending money!
He played half of his junior career as a rover and as a result he kept the skills learnt in that position. He was a player who was never beaten over four quarters because of his sheer persistence, intense concentration and superb recovery. He always applied the pressure to opponents either by tackling or chasing and would even crawl on hands and knees in an effort to win a loose ball.
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Upon his arrival in Melbourne he was immediately placed on an extensive two-year weights program through the Under 19s and Reserves teams, before making his senior debut at full-forward in the opening round of 1967, in front of 80,000 fans at the MCG against Essendon. He had 14 kicks, took 10 marks and kicked 3.7 in a stunning debut , also a win for the club.
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The Tigers only lost three games all year – Royce dominated and was the unanimous choice as the League’s best rookie.
Later that season, playing for Victoria he kicked 7 goals in their big (20.15.135 to 11.16.82) win over Western Australia and represented Australia against Ireland.
He moved to centre half forward for the first time in the Round 15 match against North Melbourne. The result - a Tigers win.
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Richmond entered the finals and Hart kicked 6 goals in the 2nd Semi.
The victorious 1967 Richmond team drown skipper Fred Swift after achieving top place. Royce Hart is pictured in the back row, third from the right. |
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In the Grand Final he played like a veteran as Richmond won its first premiership for 24 years, drawing on rich reserves of judgement, balance and courage.
He featured with 13 kicks and 3 goals in a nail-biting premiership win, including one which followed one of the most famous marks of all time – his brilliant fly over Geelong’s Peter Walker in the desperate last quarter.
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In 1969, he again tasted premiership glory with the Tigers, and also became only the second player in history to play in two senior Grand Finals in two states in consecutive weeks. He had trained with Glenelg whilst on national service in Adelaide. They paid him $2000 to play in the SANFL Grand Final a week after his VFL triumph - but he was knocked out early on and the team well beaten.
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Royce was appointed captain in 1972, leading the Tigers into 3 consecutive Grand Finals for two premierships.
His marking was uncanny. He would float in from the side of a pack, twist his solid 6ft 2in frame, and clasp the ball.
Royce Hart receiving the premiership cup after the 1972 grand final win from the Governor of Victoria Sir Henry
Winneke.
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Hart played in four premierships - 1967, 1969 and as captain of the 1973 and 1974 teams. He played for Victoria in his first year and on 10 other occasions, once as captain.
He won the club Best and Fairest award in 1969 and 1972, and was leading goalkicker in 1967 with 55 and in 1971 with 59.
By 1975, the strain on his knees had led to three operations and severely restricted his mobility. His stood down from the captaincy, but chose to ignore doctor’s retirement advice and remained a devastating player.
Royce’s sharp football brain and natural leadership skills saw him remain at Tigerland as a specialist and reserves coach, before crossing to Footscray as senior coach in 1980, leading the Bulldogs until 1982.
He was one of the first
footballers to write a book on his career, aptly named The Royce HART Story. He
now lives in his native Tasmania where he runs a farm. Up until recently he was
involved in the development of junior football in Tasmania. His current
involvement in football is as a commentator with ABC Radio. His brother, Lance,
and son, Damien, bother played senior football for Clarence. Damien made his
senior debut in 1994. He will always be remembered as one of the game’s most brilliant and talented champions. He is highly regarded as one of the Tigers’ greatest sons and was named in their Team of the Century.
Royce Hart is a member of the AFL Hall of Fame and was named at Centre Half-Forward in the AFL ‘Team of the Century’.
Royce Hart is a member of the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame along with other Tasmanian Football Legends such as Darrel Baldock
, Rex Garwood
, Horrie Gorringe
, Bruce Carter
, Terry Cashion
, Roy Cazaly
, Arthur Hodgson
, Peter Hudson
, Laurie Nash
and Ian Stewart
.
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Royce Hart - A Tasmanian Football Legend
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