Richmond great Michael Roach out of hospital and on the improve after heart attack

As Richmond great Michael Roach makes progress from triple bypass surgery, the outpouring of support for one of their favourite sons has gone far beyond the Tiger army.

Michael Roach. Picture: AAP Image/Joe Castro

Richmond great Michael Roach is out of hospital — and on the improve — after a heart attack earlier this month left him fighting for his life.

Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale said the club was “thrilled” that the goalkicking great was now out of hospital, saying the huge number of wellwishers who contacted the club during his time in intensive care “got to him in spirit”.

“He (Roach) is genuinely loved, not just by Richmond people, but from footy fans and all from people from all walks of life,” Gale told News Corp.

“He was in intensive care and he had a few complications which I won’t go into. We were trying to keep it private to respect the family’s wishes, but when the story got out, we were absolutely inundated with calls (to the club).

“People quite legitimately wanted to reach out, such is the love and affection they have for him. He is such a well loved person.

“It (the support) absolutely got to him in spirit.”

Michael Roach is out of hospital and on the mend. Picture: AAP

Roach, 64, had a stent inserted after his heart attack, but was then forced to undergo triple bypass surgery.

A few complications slowed his initial progress, but his former teammates, fans of Richmond, and footy fans from all over the country have been buoyed by his improvement in recent days.

A Past Players’ WhatsApp group helped to manage the information about Roach’s condition, with one of his former teammates Peter Williams keeping those close to him updated.

The man known as ‘Disco’ played 200 VFL games for Richmond between 1977 and 1989, and was a key member of the Tigers’ 1980 premiership-winning side.

Long-time mates Brian Taylor and Michael Roach back in 1984.

Among the visitors to catch up with Roach was former Richmond teammate and Channel 7 commentator Brian Taylor, with whom he goes on regular walks around Melbourne.

Roach has also spoken with a few other teammates to update them on his condition, as he continues his rehabilitation from home.

Gale said the club had been comforted by the fact that Roach had always been “in very good care”.

The high-flying full-forward won two Coleman Medals in 1980 and 1981 and was Richmond’s leading goalkicker on seven occasions.

A mark Roach took against Hawthorn in 1979 is considered one of the most spectacular grabs in the history of the game.

Roach was inducted into Richmond’s Hall of Fame in 2002.