Lou keen to see more Pies success

Lou Richards prepares to celebrate his 90th birthday. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

MAGPIE legend Lou Richards believes he has "a few Collingwood premierships" left in him as he prepares to celebrate his 90th birthday tomorrow.

As Collingwood finalises work on a statue to honour one of Victoria's living treasures, Richards said he was still in reasonable health, and keen to taste more Magpie success.

"I'd love to see Collingwood win a couple more premierships in my time," Richards said after a visit yesterday from president Eddie McGuire.

"I've seen plenty of losing ones (grand finals). Bloody oath, I'd love to see a few more winning ones."

Lou Richards picture special

Born into a famous Collingwood family in 1923, Richards has been alive for 10 of the club's 15 VFL and AFL flags.

He was captain of the Magpies' 1953 premiership side, playing 250 games and kicking 423 goals before embarking on an even bigger media career.

Asked about how he felt about turning 90, he flashed his trademark vaudeville smile and said: "It doesn't sound too good when you say it - but I'm still here and that's the main thing."

Then followed a chuckle that has served Richards well since graduating from being a tenacious Collingwood rover into what he has always termed "a mega star". He said: "I am feeling OK, I can't get around as much as I used to.

"But the thing is to not let it get you down. I've got a great family around me.

"I can't wait for the footy to start and I reckon we are going to have a pretty good year."

McGuire said Richards has long embodied the Collingwood spirit and was delighted that his statue would be unveiled in the coming months at the Westpac Centre.

"What I love about Lou is that he has still got that Collingwood defiance about him," McGuire said.

"He has an incredible link to our past, with the tradition of the Pannam and Richards family who played more than 900 games for Collingwood. "He has a great sense of humour. What he has done for our club and for the game is amazing.

"He was a one-man PR machine for football. The AFL these days spends $100 million on a media department - Lou did it on his own while running a pub (the Phoenix Hotel) at the same time."

Richards is not sure where his long-living genes come from, but said his mother lived well into her 90s. Tragically, his father drowned near Lakes Entrance just before Lou's 21st birthday in 1944.

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