In a special summer series, Richmond Media is counting down the top 25 Tiger recruits from rival AFL clubs throughout the past five decades. Coming in at No. 15 is Chris Bond.

Chris Bond joined Richmond via the 1993 pre-season draft following three years at Carlton where he played 22 senior games.

Bond, originally from Tasmania, made 10 senior appearances in his debut season at Tigerland.

It was the following year, however, that the versatile small man took a giant step in his AFL career.

Given a tagging role by coach John Northey, he played all 22 of the Tigers’ games in the 1994 season, was ranked fifth among the Club’s playing group for disposals, at an average of 16.3 per match, polled eight Brownlow Medal votes, and won the Jack Dyer Medal, becoming the first Tasmanian to do so since Royce Hart in 1972.

With his abundance of courage, toughness, tenacity, exemplary work ethic, discipline, ball-winning ability, efficient disposal and durability, Bond was a pivotal member of the Richmond side.

Despite developing into one of the competition’s best taggers, Bond could still find plenty of the ball, as evidenced by his AFL career-high 32-disposal display against Hawthorn in Round 17 of the 1996 season, which earned him three Brownlow votes.

In 1995 and 1996, Bond’s good form gained him selection in the Allies team for games against Victoria and Western Australia.

When Richmond broke a 13-year finals drought in 1995, Bond proved himself on the September stage, producing his customary consistency of performance.

Somewhat surprisingly, he was traded by the Tigers to Fremantle after the 1997 season in exchange for pick two in the national draft. 

He had played 100 games in a five-year career at Richmond and provided the Tigers with fine service throughout.