Donald Don

Recruited from the Richmond District, Donald Don debuted as a teenager during the tumultuous years of the First World War and quickly developed into one of the Tigers' most reliable avenues to goal. A clever half-forward who could also rotate through the midfield as a rover, Don was renowned for his evasiveness, anticipation, and goal sense, averaging nearly a goal a game throughout his tenure. He became a central figure in the club's first golden era, playing a vital role in the breakthrough back-to-back premierships of 1920 and 1921.

Despite his standing as a dual premiership player and a Life Member of the club, Don's departure from Punt Road remains one of the more controversial episodes in Richmond's history. Following the 1928 season, the committee engaged in a ruthless clean-out of veteran players, delisting Don alongside club icons Vic Thorp and Mel Morris. While the decision was deeply unpopular with supporters at the time, it marked the definitive end of the 1920s dynasty. Don subsequently crossed to the VFA to captain-coach Prahran, leaving behind a legacy as a key architect of Richmond's early VFL success.