(Sung to the tune of Me & Bobby McGee)
Buggered at the Jolimont Road end, playing the Blues again
Back when having tats meant you were mean
Robbie pulled a durry out, though it was still during the game
Sucked a tinny filled with Tiger dreams
Balmely hooned and swiped a dirty big coathanger
Got ‘em playin’ soft while the Tiges smashed the Blues, yeah
Cheer squad at the Punt Road end was showing form was fine
Grog Squad singing every chant it knew
Freedom’s just another word for beatin’ up the Blues
Beatin’ don’t mean nothin’ without a flag like ’73, no no
And winnin’ under Tommy was easy Lord, ‘specially ‘gainst the Blues
You know, Tigers winning flags was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Robbie McGhie
From Tommy Hafey’s gold mines to always getting done
The past 37 years have destroyed my soul
Through all kinds of weather, through everything we done
Belief in the Tigers kept us from the cold
Now we’re at the ‘G again, the Crows have to play away
We’re at home, a gold jumper is gonna be just fine
And I’m sure all of our tomorrows are gonna be like yesterday
Holdin’ that Premiership cup is gonna be sublime
Freedom’s just another word for beatin’ the Adelaide crew
2017 premiers, that’s what we’re gonna be, yeah
Yeah, feelin’ good is easy when you’re beatin’ up the Crows
A premiership is gonna be good enough for me, mm-hmm
Good enough for me and Robbie McGhie
La da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da
Robbie McGhie, yeah
La da da da da da da
La da da da da da da
La da da da da da da
Robbie McGhie, yeah
La da La la da da la da da la da da
La da da da da da da da da
Hey, Robbie
Oh, oh Robbie McGhie, yeah
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Hey, Robbie
Oh, oh Robbie McGhie, yeah
Well, I call him an idol, a premiership back man
I said, not too high on talent, but did the best he can, c’mon
Hey now, Robbie now
Hey now, Robbie McGhie, yeah
Woo
La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la la
Hey, hey, hey Robbie McGhie, yeah
La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la
Hey, hey, hey, Robbie McGhie, yeah
* Apologies to Janis Joplin and Kris Kristofferson
Robert “Bones” McGhie was a dual premiership player (1973-1974) for the Richmond Football Club. The heavily tattooed McGhie started his career with Footscray, returned there following his time at Richmond and ended his career at South Melbourne, the team that became the Sydney Swans. He was a fine defender who perhaps didn’t get the accolades he deserved because of his looks, but he has forever been immortalized for having a smoke and a beer on the football field following the 1973 Grand Final, symbolizing a different age from the current milquetoast world of the AFL and extremely healthy lifestyles.
McGhie’s tale of durries and tinnies has been picked up by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the lead-up to Saturday’s Grand Final, when the Tigers take on the Adelaide Crows. Should the Tiges win, it’s likely to be slabs all round in Melbourne at least.
Robert ‘Bones’ McGhie: Famous smoking Richmond Tigers footballer revisits MCG
1973 VFL Grand Final (featuring Robbie McGhie)
1974 VFL Grand Final (featuring Robbie McGhie)
1980 VFL Grand Final (Richmond’s most recent premiership, but not featuring Robbie McGhie)