Max Richardson

Recruited from West Coburg, Max Richardson joined his older brother Wayne at Victoria Park in 1969, quickly establishing himself as a vital component of the Magpies' midfield setup. While initially arriving with the challenge of matching his prolific sibling, Max carved out his own distinct reputation as a rover with exceptional endurance, strong overhead marking ability for his size, and a reliable boot near goal. His consistency was underlined by his victory in the 1975 Copeland Trophy count, and he became a fixture in the club's finals campaigns of the decade, featuring in the 1970 Grand Final loss as well as the famous drawn Grand Final and subsequent replay defeat in 1977.

Richardson ascended to the captaincy in 1978, yet his tenure as skipper lasted only one season before he was surprisingly cleared to Fitzroy. The transfer stunned many supporters, coming as the Magpies sought to regenerate their list under Tom Hafey, effectively ending the Richardson dynasty at the club. He spent two final seasons at the Junction Oval, providing valuable experience to the Lions before retiring at the end of 1980. Although he finished his career elsewhere, he remains best remembered as a tenacious Collingwood leader and one of the premier rovers of his era.