50 Monstrous Matches

Richmond utility Chris Hyde has not done things the easy way. He and Chris Newman were drafted at the same time. They were similar builds and types. Neither was given a senior game in their first year, Hyde was delisted at the end of that season and then redrafted, I've never been sure why teams do that, but I think it's a way of fiddling both the draft and the salary cap.

Newman became a regular senior selection later the following year, Hyde continued to struggle for the VFL affiliate Coburg. He got the odd game or two, but did not really look like making the grade with the limited game time he got.

Chris Hyde's first game of the annus horribilus that was 2004 was at the time his best game. The promise shown there continued to win him senior selection throughout that year.

In the first few games of 2005 Hyde was regularly amongst Richmond's best players, it was also then that his unusual nick name of 'Monster' became public knowledge. It was something that had happened with Terry Wallace's arrival at Tigerland. The new coach had assigned Hyde a new role and he had initially expressed fears that he was not up to it, when Wallace convinced him that he was Hyde threw himself at it with such vigour that Terry joked he had created a 'monster'. The stre of form came to an end against St Kilda when with eyes only for the ball Hyde collided with St Kilda's Matt Maguire. The hit was so hard that Chris was knocked unconscious and also sustained a fractured skull. When he returned it was wearing a helmet that protected his head, it also cut down on his vision and hearing, this forced him back to Coburg, but a strong performance sans helmet got him back into the seniors. Unfortunately he never quite regained his early season form, although he did earn his spot each week.

Hyde has started season 2006 on the way back to top form. The match against West Coast was his first significant milestone of 50 games. He was amongst Richmond's better players in the 46 point loss to the ladder leaders and kicked a very nice running goal. Due to the result it won't be one he wants to remember, but he can hold his head high. Congratulations Monster, let's hope for at least another 50.