Richmond’s History and Tradition Committee has completed a thorough investigation into the Club’s best and fairest award winners pre-1940, after some anomalies were brought to the attention of the Club Board.
The investigation, overseen by Club Vice-President Emmett Dunne, sought to verify whether best and fairest awards were in fact presented in seasons prior to 1940.
The investigation included a review of Annual Reports, media reports from each season and discussions with the next of kin of relevant players in an attempt to locate trophies or other memorabilia that might verify the presentation of a best and fairest award in those seasons.
The investigation was unable to confirm that the Club had declared best and fairest winners for a number of years and the Board has subsequently determined that club records be amended accordingly.
“This has been an exhaustive process that has involved a forensic examination of our history,” Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said. “Where possible we have spoken to families of the players affected to ensure we have explored every avenue possible to confirm the award or otherwise.”
“Ultimately the integrity of our historical records is paramount and as such the Board took the view that these amendments should be made.
“The players affected will always be an important part of this Club’s history but the fact remains that in most of these years there was no best and fairest awarded. Previously, some assumptions about best and fairest winners were made retrospectively that the Board did not believe reasonable.
“It is important to stress that the Club is not taking away these awards but that it has not been able to confirm that best and fairest awards were made in these years.
“Naturally if any evidence comes to light to suggest these awards be reinstated the Board would consider those cases, but based on the work done and the information available, we believe these records need to be amended.”
Richmond Best and Fairest Winners 1908 - 1939
1908: Not awarded
1909: No awarded
1910: Not awarded
1911: Not awarded
1912: No awarded
1913: Not awarded
1914: Not awarded
1915: Not awarded
1916: Not awarded
1917: Not awarded
1918: Not awarded
1919: Not awarded
1920: Not awarded
1921: Not awarded
1922: Not awarded
1923: Not awarded
1924: Not awarded
1925: Not awarded
1926: Not awarded
1927: Basil McCormack
1928: Basil McCormack
1929: Jack Titus
1930: Not awarded
1931: Not Awarded
1932: Not awarded
1933: Not awarded
1934: Not awarded
1935: Ray Martin
1936: Not awarded
1937: Jack Dyer
1938: Jack Dyer
1939: Jack Dyer
