Collingwood poaching partly to blame for Richmond premiership drought, says Royce Hart

ROYCE Hart says it is "absolutely ridiculous" that Richmond hasn't won a flag since 1980 and partly blames Collingwood.

David Cloke

ROYCE Hart says it is "absolutely ridiculous" that Richmond hasn't won a flag since 1980 and partly blames Collingwood.

The 65-year-old cites the bitter recruiting war between the Magpies and the Tigers in the early '80s as a factor in the embarrassing 32-year drought.

"Collingwood pinched the nucleus of a really good side," Hart said. "You can't lose all those good players and expect to remain at the top.

"Richmond won the 1980 premiership and then lost in the 1982 Grand Final.

"And the next few years after that, Collingwood pinched (David) Cloke, (Geoff) Raines and (Brian Taylor).

"Bryan Wood went to Essendon and there were others who left as well. It really hurt the club."

Hart said one of the reasons why he was able to play in four premierships (1967, '69, '73-74) was the playing group was able to stay together for a decade.

"We all came together as a group leading up to 1967, and most of us virtually stayed there until about 1977," he said.

"That next group of players coming through didn't stay together as group for long enough. If they had, things might have been different.”