Footyinfo

Dale Weightman

Richmond · “Flea”

AFL career

274 games344 goals

Debut
R1 1978 v CAR1 Apr 1978
Most recent
R22 1993 v STK28 Aug 1993

Stats

1993
RCH
9
5.8
8.2
14.0
1.4
1.0
0.9
1.0
0.2
0.8
43
1992
RCH
14
6.3
8.4
14.7
1.1
1.6
0.8
1.6
1.1
0.6
52
1991
RCH
19
13.1
12.3
25.4
2.7
2.1
1.8
1.8
1.2
0.6
84
1990
RCH
11
10.2
9.5
19.6
2.3
2.5
0.8
2.4
1.0
0.5
72
1989
RCH
15
10.9
6.4
17.3
1.4
2.9
1.1
1.1
1.3
0.9
62
1988
RCH
18
13.8
8.3
22.2
3.2
2.9
1.5
1.2
1.9
1.3
84
1987
RCH
16
13.5
12.1
25.6
2.3
2.9
1.6
1.6
1.3
1.4
85
1986
RCH
20
10.6
10.8
21.4
2.1
2.9
2.2
-
1.5
1.4
-
1985
RCH
20
11.5
10.3
21.8
3.2
3.0
1.9
-
1.5
1.2
-
1984
RCH
14
10.2
9.4
19.6
2.4
1.9
2.3
-
1.4
1.6
-
1983
RCH
21
9.9
10.2
20.1
2.2
2.2
2.6
-
1.3
0.8
-
1982
RCH
22
10.2
11.0
21.2
2.0
2.1
1.6
-
1.4
0.5
-
1981
RCH
18
11.8
12.7
24.5
1.9
3.6
2.6
-
0.8
0.6
-
1980
RCH
24
12.1
11.2
23.3
2.3
2.6
2.2
-
1.0
1.3
-
1979
RCH
15
8.2
7.9
16.1
1.5
2.3
2.0
-
1.3
0.9
-
1978
RCH
18
10.3
7.8
18.2
2.1
3.0
1.9
-
1.3
1.1
-
League
Season
STK
WP
R22
3
10
13
4
0
0
0
2
0.0
49
MEL
MCG
R21
2
6
8
1
0
3
0
1
0.0
16
WCE
PP
R18
8
10
18
1
4
1
0
1
0.3
55
COL
MCG
R14
3
3
6
1
0
0
0
0
0.1
19
ESS
PP
R13
5
12
17
1
1
0
0
1
0.1
48
FIT
PP
R11
12
14
26
1
1
1
0
3
0.0
77
MEL
MCG
R6
2
5
7
1
0
2
0
0
0.0
13
NTH
MCG
R5
14
10
24
2
2
0
0
0
1.2
78
WCE
SUB
R3
3
4
7
1
1
1
0
1
1.0
28

Profile

Born
03 Oct 1959 (age 67y 18d)
Height
170 cm
Weight
69 kg

Teams

Honours

  • Premiership1980
  • Hall of Fame2001
  • Richmond B&F(2×) 1986, 1987
    2nd
    1991
    Top 10
    1980, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1989
  • Richmond captain(5×) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992

Family

Recruited from Mildura Imperial, Dale Weightman arrived at Punt Road in the late 1970s and quickly established himself as one of the premier rovers in the competition. Affectionately known as "The Flea" due to his small stature, he compensated for a lack of size with fearless attack on the ball and exquisite skills, particularly his creative handballing and vision in traffic. Weightman was an integral part of the Tigers' dominant 1980 premiership side, but his legacy was largely forged during the club's subsequent fall from grace. As Richmond faced financial crises and on-field struggles throughout the 1980s, Weightman remained a fiercely loyal and consistent beacon of quality, often carrying the team's midfield through its darkest era.

Weightman's brilliance extended well beyond club level, earning him a reputation as a superb State of Origin performer who thrived in the high-intensity atmosphere of representative football. A proud Victorian who captained the 'Big V', his ability to perform on the biggest stages garnered him multiple All-Australian selections. At club level, he served as captain and claimed three Jack Dyer Medals as Richmond's best and fairest, retiring in 1993 as one of the most decorated and respected figures in the Tigers' history.