In Jim Main's series, 'Swan Songs', on great players from the past, this week he talks to former Swans captain and coach, Rick Quade...
Rick Quade
Born: August 26, 1950
Played: 1970-80
Games: 164
Goals: 111
Former Swans captain and coach Ricky Quade was “a little disappointed” when there was no invitation to chair the club’s Hall of Fame committee this year.
However, he later realised there was a very good reason why he was “overlooked” after presiding over the original inductions.
As chairman, Quade brooked at any suggestion his name should even be mentioned in discussions. Yet he was an obvious candidate for Hall of Fame inclusion.
Quade therefore attended last month’s function unaware that he was about to join the club’s elite and, in fact, almost missed the induction altogether.
Quade’s brother Bill had passed away earlier in the week, and then the night before the Hall of Fame dinner daughter Danielle gave birth to Quade’s first grandchild, Lachlan Richard Robertson.
“It was a very emotional week,” Quade explained. “Everything seemed to happen at once and I therefore thought of pulling the pin on the club dinner.
“Obviously, I am glad I didn’t because being inducted into the Hall of Fame is about as good as it gets when it comes to club honours and I was enormously pleased to have my name read out with some of the Club greats.”
Quade has given the Swans almost 40 years of service, joining South Melbourne as a boom recruit from Ariah Park (NSW) in 1970. Sadly, Quade severely injured a knee in his first senior game and had to start all over again the following season.
One of the best ruck-rovers of his era, he won the Swans’ best and fairest in 1976 and took over the captaincy from club legend Peter Bedford in 1977.
A magnificent work-horse, Quade was renowned for his courage and never-say-die spirit and, in one match against Fitzroy, won a 10 out of 10 rating for what was described as a “perfect performance”.
Quade retired in 1980 but, two years later, became the club’s first Sydney coach. He held the position until he resigned because of ill-health during the 1984 season.
From there, Quade held a number of club positions, including chairman of selectors and in 1995 accepted an invitation from club chairman Richard Colless to join the Swans’ board.
“Richard suggested it would be good if I could give the club two years in this capacity, but the two years stretched to 14 and I finally relinquished the position in 2009,” he said.
Quade now concentrates on the trucking business, Freight Specialists of Australia, he operates with two partners.
The business, with 400 employees, specialises in warehouse distribution and clients include several blue-chip Australian companies.
Quade started in trucking in 1974 when former player and coach Graeme John employed him at TNT in Melbourne. Quade then ran TNT in Sydney before launching his own business in 1987.
“The business takes a lot of my time, but I am never too busy to stop watching the Swans,” he said. “One of the best parts of attending the recent Hall of Fame dinner was being able to meet some of the younger players.
“They have a fantastic attitude and I am sure the club is in good hands because the youngsters are following the examples set by recent players in Brett Kirk, Michael O’Loughlin and Stuart Maxfield.
“There is quite a lot of talent coming through and it is tremendously pleasing to see so many kids breaking into the senior side. It augurs well for the future and we might even see another premiership down the track.
“There were times before 2005 when I doubted I would see the Swans win a premiership, but I can see the club rebuilding very quickly following that triumph.”
