Tributes flow for footie legend Lou Richards
THE AFL community has united to mourn football legend Lou Richards, who has died aged 94.
Richards passed away peacefully at the nursing home where he had lived for many years.
Tributes were pouring in yesterday from the Victorian Premier to TV broadcasters, who shared their thoughts on the great man.
Premier Daniel Andrews tweeted: “What he lacked in height, he made up for in fight.”
AFL great Kevin Bartlett tweeted: “Sad to hear of the passing of Lou Richards Collingwood and media icon who entertained a generation of footy fans thanks for the memories.”
Collingwood tweeted: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the Richards family. Lou, and his family, will forever be a part of the Collingwood story.”
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said: “No man has done more for our game than Lou Richards. He was a quintessential Collingwood man who spoke to the entire football world.”
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said modern footy owed a huge debt to Richards.
“The AFL, our players and our clubs all benefit from the massive interest in our game around the country that is driven by media companies, and their desire to report every happening to our fans, along with trying to entertain them at the same time,” Mr McLachlan said.
“Lou Richards was the original driving force of the media’s expanding interest in our game, particularly with the emergence of television from the late 1950s, and his time as host and match-caller for the Seven Network developed a style that has often been copied but never bettered.
“Everyone in our industry who is fortunate to earn a living around the game we love has the likes of Lou Richards to thank.”
Richards finished his footy career a Collingwood legend after 250 games and a premiership. He kicked 423 goals, was premiership captain in 1953, represented Victoria three times and was inducted to the Collingwood Hall of Fame and AFL Hall of Fame.
He retired in 1955 before launching a celebrated media career that included writing for the Herald Sun and TV commentary for Channel 7 and Channel 9.