Australian Football

He might have been underrated by some, but Richmond half back flank specialist Hugh Strachan was honesty and dependability personified. Boasting excellent judgement, which helped compensate for a lack of pace, the Tigers recruited him from Camberwell Grammar and he commenced in the thirds in 1976, spending two seasons at that level.

Round one 1978 saw Strachan taking his senior bows and he soon became a regular first choice player. A highlight of his career came in 1980 when he was a member of the Richmond side which trounced Collingwood in the grand final. The early 1980s saw Strachan at his peak as exemplified by his finishing runner-up in the club’s 1981 best and fairest count.

When he retired in 1987 he had played 154 VFL games and registered 8 goals in the famous black and yellow jumper. He spent the period from 1988 to 1990 playing for Eastern Districts Football League club Mitcham.

Author - John Devaney