At the MCG last Friday night, Clay joined a select band of revered Richmond players and coaches previously bestowed with the honour.
Only eight other Richmond players — Vic Thorpe, Jack Titus, Francis Bourke, Royce Hart, Jack Dyer, Roger Dean, Tom Hafey and Kevin Barlett — have been awarded the honour in the 115-year-old Richmond Football Club.
Clay was the only latest inductee and said he was “blown away” when first told he would join the select group of Richmond greats.
“I was shocked but naturally pleasantly surprised when the club contacted me about three weeks ago to deliver the news,” Clay said.
“I was sworn to secrecy, so I had a bit time to think about it and I feel very honoured.”
Clay’s induction was made at the Richmond president’s dinner prior to the Richmond-Geelong clash last Friday night.
Clay, 78, believes being a member of four Richmond premiership sides under legendary coach Tom Hafey had been a factor in gaining the honour.
“Probably being a one-club player and chairman of selectors for two years and playing two of my premierships on a wing and other two at full back was also a bit unique,” he said.
“I didn’t win a best and fairest but was runner-up and third and finished in the top six in most of the years I was there.”
Clay’s latest accolade comes after his induction into the Richmond Hall of Fame in 2002 and also being named on the wing in Richmond’s Team of the Century.
Clay was recruited by Richmond in 1965 after playing in the Kyabram side beaten in the final minutes of an epic GVL grand final by the Tom Hafey-coached Shepparton.
He became the first full forward to win the Goulburn Valley League’s Morrison Medal in 1964 when he kicked 103 goals.
During his days with Richmond he was initially a member of its legendary centreline along with Billy Barrot and Francis Bourke.
Ironically Bourke was also a key forward for his home club Nathalia before being recruited by Richmond.
In his final years of his 213-game career at Richmond he played at full back.
Clay was renowned for his versatility, aerial strength and prodigious kicking.
Herbert only GV rep?
Utility Kaine Herbert could be Kyabram Football Club’s only representative in the GVL side to play the Ovens and Murray League in their interleague clash Albury on Saturday.
Ruckman Zac Norris and recruit Toby Wooller were other Bombers named in the squad who have withdrawn and Lachie Smith is in doubt through injury.
If Smith doesn’t come up that will leave only Herbert to fly the Kyabram flag in the game in which former Morrison Medallist and Shepparton premiership coach Mark Lambourn holds the coaching reins for the first time for the GVL.
The GVL suffered a heavy loss last season and will start long odds-on underdogs again.
In the Under-18s clash Kyabram will be represented by its skipper Bohden Learmonth and Nic Jephson, while the Bombers’ netballers will have Hollie Reid (A-grade) and Ava Pell (Under-15) flying the Kyabram colours.
High praise indeed
Kyabram Football Club coach Paul Newman has been a teammate and coach of Tom Holman during the past decade and has seen the utility play some top games.
But he claims he has never seen Holman play like he did in the Bombers’ upset win over hot favourite Euroa at Euroa on Saturday.
“That’s definitely the best game I have seen Tom play. He was just terrific,” Newman said.
Holman booted four goals in a dominant aerial display.
Wombats’ big percentage
Have you noticed Lancaster’s percentage in the Kyabram District League’s reserves competition?
The Wombat 2s have had only eight points in total kicked against them in four games while posting a total of 73.67.
In two of these games they have kept their rivals Longwood and Murchison-Toolamba scoreless and in another restricted Stanhope to one behind.
Shepparton East’s 1.2 has been the best efforts against them so far.
This all adds up to a mind-blowing percentage of 6287.5.
Former Girgarre player and president and league stalwart John Roberts is convinced this Lancaster team might be the best ever to play in the league’s reserves competition.
“I really think they would beat some of the senior teams in the league — that’s how good they are,” Roberts said.
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