Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
Roy Wright

Known as
Roy Wright

Born
23 February 1929

Died
30 July 2002 (aged 73)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 17y 154d
Last game: 30y 131d

Height and weight
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 103 kg

Senior clubs
Richmond

Jumper numbers
Richmond: 2

Roy Wright

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
RichmondV/AFL1946-19591951270.6545%98
Total1946-19591951270.6545%98

AFL: 5,617th player to appear, 705th most games played, 821st most goals kickedRichmond: 463rd player to appear, 37th most games played, 54th most goals kicked

Despite managing just 21 senior games in his first four seasons with Richmond, Roy Wright ultimately developed into one of the all time greats of the game, with two Brownlow Medals, and numerous other awards and accolades, to his credit. He always used his formidable 103 kg weight with consummate fairness, but with ever-increasing effectiveness as well.

When Jack Dyer retired at the end of the 1949 season Wright shouldered his mantle as number one Tiger ruckman with considerable aplomb, winning club best-and-fairest awards in 1951 (jointly with Des Rowe), 1952, 1954 and 1957 in addition to his two Brownlows.

18 times selected to represent the VFL in interstate matches, he earned All Australian selection at the 1956 Perth carnival. He sustained numerous injuries during his 195 game VFL career, which began in 1946 and ended in 1959, including debilitating leg and lower back complaints. He also broke his nose on no fewer than nine separate occasions. It came as a surprise to few people when Roy Wright was selected as first ruckman in Richmond's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.