Michael Patterson

Recruited from Mirboo North in Victoria's Gippsland region, Michael "Swamp Fox" Patterson was a towering ruckman whose career at Richmond was defined by resilience and a legendary performance on the club's biggest stage. Originally set to join Essendon, he was persuaded to sign with the Tigers at the last minute, though his early years at Punt Road were marked by inconsistency. He frequently oscillated between the seniors and the reserves—where he won two Best and Fairest awards—before transforming his game in the mid-1960s. Through an intense fitness regime, he developed into a mobile, high-marking big man and a fierce "protector" of his smaller teammates, cementing his spot in the senior side just as the club entered a golden era.

Patterson's crowning moment came in the 1967 Grand Final against Geelong. With Richmond's captain and first-choice ruckman Neville Crowe suspended for the match, the onus fell on Patterson to shoulder the ruck division against the legendary Polly Farmer. He rose to the occasion magnificently, nullifying Farmer's influence and playing a pivotal role in breaking the Tigers' 24-year premiership drought. He continued to serve the club as a senior leader and vice-captain until 1969, eventually departing to pursue a highly successful coaching career in South Australia with North Adelaide.