Sport
10 June, 2024
Remembering Ron — one of our finest
Branton, on debut, was praised by the likes of the Tigers’ 1920 and 1921 premiership captain-coach, Dan Minogue, following the game, while also receiving praise from The Herald and the Sporting Globe
Think of all the names who have represented the Richmond Football Club in their time in the competition from their arrival in the then Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1908.
After that, think of all the names — men and women — who have won three consecutive best and fairests for the club.
Just three players have achieved the feat in its history.
Jack Dyer is one — arguably the most famous name the club has ever had. ‘Captain Blood’, they called him — his name one of the most famous in the game.
Monique Conti is another — the modern day star of the Tigers’ fledgling AFLW team leading from the front as she tries to get them their first flag in the competition, winning all five best and fairests on offer at the club in its AFLW history.
This is the story of the third name on the list — Ronald Branton.
Simply known as Ron, Branton was — and still is — one of the finest sporting products to ever come out of Maryborough.
On May 30, he sadly passed away in the Alfred Hospital, aged 90, survived by children Robyn and Peter, four grandchildren and four siblings.
Richmond honoured him by wearing black armbands in their victory against Adelaide on Thursday night, as did Maryborough the week before, wearing black armbands in their game against Golden Square on June 1.
Branton was born in Maryborough on June 10, 1933.
While living in the town, Branton, while deciding to learn the art of carpentry, also spent significant time playing football, which took him to multiple clubs in the area, including Church of Christ, Rovers and Primrose.
It was in 1950, however, that Branton got his big break. Branton decided to step up his game, and pulled on the boots for Maryborough, fresh off a grand final appearance.
Maryborough, in the 1950s, had a fine side, even if it did not yield premierships. Branton was one of many prominant footballers in the district to make the grade in the VFL, alongside Australian Football Hall of Famer John Nicholls, and his brother Don.
In 1952, Branton, who had turned 19 just a few months prior, had taken out a share in the Magpies’ best and fairest with Des Cartwright, winning the Hoban trophy.
Clubs across the league came calling. St Kilda and Geelong gave him invitations to train — Geelong, in that period, were a powerhouse, having just won back-to-back premierships in 1951 and 1952, while the Saints were building to competitiveness over the next decade.
But it was the influence of former Richmond premiership player Max Oppy which turned the course of Richmond history.
Oppy, who had played in the Tigers’ last premiership at the time in 1943, lived across the road fromBranton, and it was he who encouraged Richmond to chase him.
It was here, that, for the first — and most certainly not the last — time that the careers of Branton and Dyer would overlap, with ‘Captain Blood’ driving over with Richmond official Maurie Fleming to seal the deal.
Branton was signed by the Tigers — the rest is history.
A report in the April 13, 1953 edition of The Maryborough District Advertiser wrote of his achievement, alongside fellow Maryborough product Kevin Coppock:
“Ron Branton and Kevin Coppock have been named on Richmond Football Club’s final list for the 1953 season. Both have been playing well in practice matches and have been well under notice of the selectors,” the report read.
“Branton, who with Des Cartwright, shared the Hoban trophy while playing with Maryborough Magpies last year, has been tipped to fill the second roving position with Richmond and Coppock looks like playing in the ruck.”
Branton would wear the number 29 jumper with Richmond, and so started an important legacy which lives on to this day.
Three years after Branton’s departure, Kevin Bartlett would add to the treasured, hallowed legacy of the number by playing 403 games in it — ranked fourth in the competition as of 2024.
Going back to 1953.
Branton’s first game at VFL level would be played alongside Oppy, a game at Punt Road where they would play against Melbourne — soon to be one of the best teams in VFL/AFL history in this era.
The Tigers held on to win by six points after leading by 22 at the final break.
Branton, on debut, was praised by the likes of the Tigers’ 1920 and 1921 premiership captain-coach, Dan Minogue, following the game, while also receiving praise from The Herald and the Sporting Globe.
It most certainly wouldn’t be the last time Branton would be praised, either.
In a year where Branton played alongside the likes of Des Rowe, 1952 and 1954 Brownlow Medallist Roy Wright and future Richmond premiership coach Tom Hafey, Branton would win the goalkicking, with 22 goals, and take the best first year player award.
He would do it again in 1954, scoring 33 goals as he showed how much impact he had as a rover in his early seasons.
Branton would continue to build his game, winning the most determined trophy in 1957, and was also always around the mark in the best and fairest count, finishing equal second in 1956, third in 1957 and second in 1958.
Branton would captain the club from the 1960 season, firstly under the coaching of Alan McDonald, followed by Des Rowe, with the Tigers continuing to rebuild.
However, it was at this time that Branton was at his best as a footballer.
He would win three consecutive best and fairests, the second — and to this day, the last — Tiger male player to have achieved the feat, alongside Dyer, who won four in succession from 1937-1940.
At that time, Branton would also represent Victoria twice, sitting in the back pocket and was arguably the Vics’ best player in their win against Adelaide in 1962.
While Alistair Lord would eventually dominate the Brownlow Medal count that year, scoring 28 votes to win comfortably by nine votes, Branton would finish equal second, alongside fellow champions of the day Ken Fraser and future Brownlow winner Kevin Murray, while also finishing ahead of the likes of former winners Bob Skilton and Verdun Howell.
Branton would also captain Richmond’s only night premiership win in 1962.
It was a terrific CV considering Branton stood five feet seven inches and played multiple positions during his career, including as rover and back pocket.
However, with the Tigers in the middle of one of their least successful periods in their history — the middle of a 24-year premiership drought, as well as the ability for country teams to offer more money than VFL teams of the era, Branton would soon move to Myrtleford as captain-coach from the 1963 season to 1965, before playing with King Valley in 1966 and 1967.
Branton was inducted into Richmond’s Hall of Fame in 2006, after a career that yielded 170 games and 171 goals.
In his later years, Branton would continue showing his affection for the club that gave him his start, attending Maryborough’s 150th year anniversary dinner as a guest of honour alongside John Nicholls and Des Tuddenham.
It was a fitting reward to be recognised as such, for he was one of the finest sporting products to ever come out of the town.