RICHO’S TOP 10: Kevin Bartlett’s milestone game was celebrated with fanfare like Scott Pendlebury

1. How great will it be to celebrate Scott Pendlebury in his record-breaking match on Saturday.

There’s been a lot made of the fanfare leading up to it, but people don’t remember that in 1983 Kevin Bartlett became the first person to play 400 games. It seemed a feat that was never going to be beaten. And it was bigger than Ben Hur. The night before the game he competed in a harness racing race at Moonee Valley against Jack Dyer (yes it happened). Before the game he was driven into the city in a yellow Rolls-Royce and given the keys to the city in front of a huge crowd. Bartlett didn’t get off to great start in the match against Collingwood, falling through the club banner and the Pies went on to win the game by 10 points. The famous Dimmeys clock tower in Richmond was painted yellow and black. Prime Minister Bob Hawke even sent him a telegram. The hype was just like it is now for Pendles and so it should be. The difference now is it’s become controversial. Yes, he’s going to benefit commercially through all the merchandise. But the uproar is over the top. This is possibly never going to be happen again. He’s at the top of the heap. He deserves every recognition and yes that includes a bit of cream, which is not cheating the salary cap. It’s a one-off game. Record breaking. History making. He is the ultimate professional and most likely the best Magpie of all time. Go well Pendles you deserve it.

2. The push in the back rule is officially a farce.

You can push players out of a contest with both hands all you like right now. You can fall straight into the middle of players’ backs in a pack. You can rundown someone in a tackle and fall straight into their back as well. Nothing to see here, no whistle. This has to be fixed ASAP. As a junior you are told to play in front. It’s always been a fundamental of Aussie rules. Do that and the rules will protect you. Not anymore, it’s a free for all.

3. It’s round 11 and it’s now official the Melbourne footy club are the real deal and can be a top-four finisher in 2025.

What an exciting footy team this is - playing with no fear and scoring strongly every week. At the MCG they have been spectacular, going 6-0 and averaging 111 points with wins over fellow top-four contenders Brisbane, Hawthorn and Gold Coast. They even scored 114 points in a loss to Sydney at the SCG. Whenever you hear a Melbourne player talk about their form, they say the shackles have been released. Just go out and play and have fun. Less rules I keep hearing. Steven King must be the leading coach-of-the-year contender right now.

4. The “Lizard” Nick Blakey has to be the most watchable player in the game.

What the game demands now is line-breaking players that take the ball from defence to attack in a split second. No one is doing this better than Blakey. With blistering pace and work rate, he has a licence to run forward from the back line knowing that players such as Callum Mills and James Rowbottom will give him defensive cover. Once he gains possession of the ball, he gains maximum metres and then has great vision and puts a deft touch on his kicks. The Swans are using him so well and their game style revolves around him. He is a joy to watch.

5. I had Hawthorn down as my premiers at the start of the season.

I love Sam Mitchell and think he is one of the best coaches in the competition. But the Hawks have hit a road bump with a draw and two losses in the past three weeks. Injuries to key players have been a factor. That’s why tonight’s game down in Launceston is the match of the round. The Hawks haven’t had a run of poor form like this for a couple of years and their opponents the Crows have found form over the past two weeks. The area the Hawks need to address tonight is their efficiency inside 50. It’s been down the past three weeks. They also don’t lose in Launceston. I think they will bounce back tonight.

6. The tallest AFL players in history have been 6’11”.

Aaron Sandilands, Mason Cox and Ned Reeves all hit that mark. This will change in the next few years. A few weeks ago, I wrote about how we should comb American colleges looking for athletes. There is an upcoming US training combine being held soon and a number of seven-foot athletes have been invited, mostly with basketball or volleyball backgrounds. The first seven-foot ruckman is coming soon.

7. If you think your club needs some run and carry and a metres-gained player that can hit the scoreboard, then I’d be looking very closely at St Kilda’s Darcy Wilson.

He is putting together a very good season. At 20 years of age and 50 games into his career, he is really starting to develop into a potential A-grader. Any mid/wing who can average a goal a game is invaluable. He is out of contract and will be in high demand. There is going to be a lot of clubs into him. It will also be interesting to see if the Saints can match the offers that will come knowing what they have spent in the past 12 months on players. Interesting watch.

8. I love Sir Doug Nicholls Round and the spotlight it shines on our incredible Indigenous players.

During the week we had the privilege of interviewing former Richmond and Claremont star Michael Mitchell on our Richmond Football Club podcast. Mitch is in town for Dreamtime at the ‘G and designed the Tigers guernsey for tomorrow night’s game. As a Richmond fan I loved watching him play. He would be perfectly suited to the game now with his blistering pace. He could also mark the footy for a small player. Jump online and check out his mark and goal of the year in 1990. Yes, he won both. He also won a Sandover Medal with Claremont before coming over to Richmond. What a legend.

9. The 30 and five club is very exclusive.

That’s 30 possessions and five goals in a game. Geelong’s Shaun Mannagh joined the club last Thursday night at the Gabba. What a bargain basement pick-up he has been for the Cats. Just to put it in perspective, only 22 players have done it this century. Only one player has done it twice, that player was Geelong’s Steve Johnson who incredibly did it two weeks in a row in rounds 19 and 20 in 2011. He had 34 and seven and 31 and six. What a freak talent he was. Can you believe the GOAT Leigh Matthews did it 11 times. So, congratulations Shaun you have joined a rare club.

10. I love my music and in my downtime at home I love nothing more than surfing the net and watching live music shows.

So do yourself a favour and watch the performance of Jack White at this year’s Coachella music festival in California. His closing number of the set Seven Nation Army is a great anthem tune. If we are looking for grand final entertainment in the future, and if it’s not an Aussie artist, I’d be going for Jack. Once you have watched this performance tell me that this song wouldn’t bring the house down on GF day at the MCG.