RICHMOND will pay tribute to club great Neville Crowe with a lap of honour at the MCG ahead of his beloved Tigers' clash against St Kilda on Sunday.
Crowe, 77, who is battling ill-health, will be honoured as a 'coming home hero' in a concept that has recognised other club greats, including Francis Bourke, Barry Richardson and Kevin Morris this year.
In 11 seasons at Punt Road, from 1957-67, Crowe played 150 games and won Richmond’s best and fairest award three times (1963, 1964 and 1966). He captained the Tigers from 1963-66 and represented Victoria on nine occasions.
The ruckman missed the 1967 premiership after he was reported in the second semi-final for striking Carlton ruckman John Nicholls.
In 1987, Crowe took over as Richmond president and became the driving force of the successful ‘Save Our Skins’ campaign, playing an important role in the creation of the ‘Endangered Species’ TV promotion. He stood down in 1993.
He spoke about his battle with Alzheimer's disease in 2012.
"It takes everything away from what I was doing with my family, writing, a dozen other things," he said.
"I just struggle with it. It's just trashy sort of stuff. I haven't got the vocabulary I had."
