Bartlett eases his way back to Tigerland
Michael Gleeson | September 20, 2007
ON A night to reconnect with the past, Richmond "immortal" Kevin Bartlett last night made his most significant step to a complete reunion with his former club by attending the Tigers' best-and-fairest dinner as an official guest.
Bartlett saw perennial bridesmaid Matthew Richardson win his first club best-and-fairest award after four times finishing runner-up and club president Gary March deliver a Tommy Hafey-like spray of the club's under-performing players.
Relations between Bartlett and the club from which he became estranged after he was sacked as coach in 1991 have been thawing in recent years.
But until last night Bartlett had refused invitations to official club functions and entreaties to officially reunite with the club.
Bartlett, who played in seven grand finals for five premierships and a Norm Smith Medal with the Tigers, has attended premiership reunions and Tommy Hafey Club and Tigerlillies non-official functions, but has baulked at being involved officially.
The decision to attend the Jack Dyer Medal night as an official guest, alongside other legends such as Francis Bourke and Hafey, is the most public reconciliation yet between the club and the man who played more than 400 matches.
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