Richmond premiership captain Royce Hart seriously injured in car crash

Royce Hart’s four-time Richmond premiership teammate has recalled what it was like playing alongside the legend, as Hart’s brother gives an update on the star’s injuries after a horrific car crash saw him hospitalised.

• Tigers legend Matthew Richardson longs for a true Tasmanian AFL side
• RICHMOND immortal Royce Hart says there is an uncanny resemblance between his 1967 premiership team and the Tigers who will take on Adelaide Crows

ROYCE Hart’s four-time Richmond premiership teammate Francis Bourke said the Tasmanian Tiger held God-like status among his “mere mortal” colleagues as the four-time premiership player recovers from a serious head-on car accident in hospital.

Hart, 73, was rushed to Royal Hobart hospital in a serious condition after the crash in Hobart on Sunday morning, as were the occupants of the other car — a 77-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman, also of Hobart.

Royce Hart at home in Oakdowns, Tasmania. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

Hart’s overnight surgery to fix a broken arm had been a success, says his older brother Lance, but he is still recovering from cracked ribs, face lacerations and bruising.

The two-time Richmond premiership captain, Tigers “Immortal” and AFL Hall Team of the Century centre half-forward, remains in intensive care.

“He’s had the surgery and it went okay, but he’s pretty sore,” Lance said.

The man who debuted for the Tigers’ five games after Hart in 1967, and succeeded him as Richmond captain in 1976, Bourke said Royce was a genuine star.

“He is held in awe by us mere mortals,” Bourke said.

Hawthorn's Kelvin Moore leads Royce Hart to the ball at the MCG.

“Royce was a small man playing at centre half-forward in the days when we didn’t direct it to him with lace-out precision.

“It was just get it down there as quickly as you could and let Royce fend for himself.

“From that perspective, he had to concede physical disadvantages to his direct opponents, and of course ruckmen and other players dropping back on him.

“Royce was able to overcome that.”

Hart’s body took a beating.

Royce Hart holds up the premiership cup from the 1973 Grand Final against Carlton.

“It took its toll on him but to his credit, Royce was one of the most courageous players I’ve ever seen,” Bourke said.

“He would back into packs and he took a pounding form the second-man-up situation in terms of physical contact.

“He never complained about that and paid a penalty in terms of the shortness of his career compared to some of the rest of us.

“He has my admiration.

“We know about Royce’s brilliant marking, his lovely hands and his deadly kicking.

“But he doesn’t get the plaudits he deserves for his courage.”

INITIAL, MONDAY, MARCH 1:

RICHMOND’s two-time premiership captain Royce Hart is in intensive care in the Royal Hobart Hospital after he was injured in a head-on crash in Hobart on Sunday.

The 73-year-old Tigers legend, a veteran of 187 games, 369 goals, four premierships and recognised as one of the greatest forwards of all-time, was to undergo surgery to mend a broken arm.

He also has several cracked ribs, face lacerations and bruising.

Hart’s brother Lance said he was badly injured but expected to make a slow but good recovery.

Former premiership captain for the Richmond Tigers football club Royce Hart in his home in Tasmania. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“Royce’s injuries are not life-threatening but he was pretty hurt in the accident,” Lance said.

“He has got a broken arm and I’m not sure how bad it is but he’s supposed to have surgery on it.

“He has some lacerations to his face I think where the airbag went off, and some cuts and bruises and he has needed some stitches.

“He will be in intensive care for a while, from what I gather, at least two or three days, and we’ll know more after that.”

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale sent the club’s finest regards to their former champion and the last man to captain the Tigers to back-to-back premiership until Trent Cotchin achieved the feat in 2019-20.

Royce Hart played Australian Rules for Richmond.

“We are clearly very concerned to hear the news and fortunately he seems to be in a reasonable state,” Gale said.

“The history and tradition of our football club is a very rich one and our past players, coaches and administrators played a very important part and they are much loved.

“As a two-time premiership captain and a four-time premiership player and Richmond immortal, he is one of our greatest ever players and much loved.

“On behalf of our club and hundreds of thousands of members and fans from around the country we send our very best wishes to Royce in his recovery.”

Hart was taken by Richmond in 1967 as a 16-year-old schoolboy when he played for his local club Clarence.

“Royce is a beacon for all of the aspirational kids coming through Clarence,” said Roos CEO Richard Mulligan.

1969. Royce Hart twists away from a Geelong opponent during the first semi-final at the MCG.

“He holds a very sacred pace within the folklore of the Clarence Football Club.

“Royce is held in the highest regard at our club and in football in general. Any fair-minded person with knowledge of the game would acknowledge he was one of the greatest players to pull on the boots — and I think Richmond got him for two suits and a pair of shoes.”

A Tasmania Police report said the accident happened on the stretch of road near Risdon Cove at 11.15am on Sunday.

“A blue Nissan Dualis was travelling east on the East Derwent Highway, Risdon Cove, when it collided head-on with a blue MG hatch being driven in the opposite direction,” the report said.

“The driver of the Nissan was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

“The driver of the MG hatch, a 77-year-old man from Bellerive and his passenger, a 74

year old woman also from Bellerive, were also transported to hospital with serious

injuries.

“Both vehicles were extensively damaged.”

Crash Investigation Services are investigating the cause of the accident.