Stars of Tigerland Michael Green
Stars of Tigerland Michael Green Michael Green (14 May 1948- ) Played 146 games for the Richmond Tigers between 1966-71 and 1973-75
Michael Green came to the Tigers the same year as Tommy Hafey 1966, Hailing from the amateur club Old Xaverians, Michael played his first senior game at age 18 for the Richmond Tigers, in the 1966 rnd 17 clash against South Melbourne (D R Swans) In the 1967 season, Michael became a more regular member of the Tigers senior side playing 18 games, he was selected as the 19th man in the victorious grand final team. With the Tigers missing the finals in 1968, all attention was turned to the 69 season, cementing his place in the Tigers senior team Michael played in all games, and at the young age of 21 became a dual premiership player, after the Tigers overcame arch rivals Carlton.
The Tigers missed the finals in 1970 and again in 1971, at the end of the 71 season at the age of just 23, Michael retired, a young family and the demands of his law career forcing his football career to take the backseat, as Michael watched on the Tigers LOST the 1972 grand final after going in red hot favourites.
Having been cajoled out of retirement by the mourning Richmond hierachy Michael agrees to return for the 1973 season and by the time he retires for the second time Michael Green will have his name written into glorious Tigerland history. Michael went on to be one of the Richmond Tigers most valuable players during the back-to-back premierships of 1973-74, he played in 45 of a possible 50 games during those two premiership seasons, with the Tigers having a success rate of 77.8% winning 35 and losing just 10. In the 1973 season , Michael developed into a superb ruckman, awesome in the air, fluently mobile, and an excellent kick, he provided Brian ‘The Whale’ Roberts and Craig McKellar with great ruck assistance, he boosted the team’s forward line, kicking 30 goals for the season, including a career-high five in Round 6
Grand Final day, 1973, Michael was one of Richmond’s best, as the Tigers gained their desired revenge over Carlton, Michael had a great day collecting, 13 kicks, three handballs, six marks and he also kicked a vital goal, as the emotion-charged Tiger team battered the D R Blues into submission.
In the 1974 season, Michael continued his top form for the Tigers and was a major contributor in their quest to win back-to-back flags, in the ’74 Grand Final against North Melbourne, Michael again was a key contributor for the Richmond Tigers, He had eight kicks, four handballs, six marks, kicked two goals, including one during the second quarter that changed the momentum of the match.
The Tigers gun ruck-rover Kevin Sheedy had marked in the forward pocket, he went back to take his shot for goal from a very acute angle, ran in as if to kick, feighned, shot a handpass over the head of the unsususpecting player on the mark, to Michael, who was left alone on the goal-line, he dribbled through the easiest of goals, the Tigers who at that stage were trailing by a couple of goals, lifted dramatically after this, Michael followed this up a short time later, goaling again after taking a strong mark, ramming home the Tigers advantage. The Tigers went on to comfortably win the Flag by 41 points. Michael achieved a lot in his short career, he retired for good at the end of the 1975 season when the Tigers bowed out in the preliminary final. Michael was selected as the Tigers inaugural Coming Home Hero. Michael Green Career highlights
Hall of Fame Inductee 2004 Playing Career: 1966-1971, 1973-1975 Games: 146 Goals: 83 Premierships: 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974 RFC Seconds' Coach: 1982 – 1983 RFC Life Member 1976 RFC Team of the Century
Inaugural Comming Home Hero
