Sporting Career
In 1930, Dyer won the Metropolitan League's award for the best player at the age of 16. Growing impatient as Richmond officials had not yet attempted to sign him, Dyer applied for a clearance to play with the Tigers' arch rival, Collingwood. The gambit worked; the Richmond hierarchy wanted to see him in action before any decision was made and Dyer was in training with Richmon for the start of the 1931 season. Richmond's coach 'Checker' Hughes pitting Dyer against veteran Joe Murdoch in a practice session. Dyer hardly touched the ball and was disheartened about his prospects until Hughes consoled him by explaining the pairing with Murdoch was a trial of courage, not skill.
Hughes was confident enough about the teenager to select him for his debut in just the second game of the season, against North Melbourne. Dyer was made a reserve and he looked on as the team racked up a VFL record score of 30.19 (199) in one of the biggest wins in VFL/AFL history. With his team cruising to the easiest of wins, Hughes decided to save some money by leaving Dyer on the bench all day. It was the height of the Great Depression and the going rate for the players was 3 pounds per match, but Richmond only paid half that for unused reserves, so Hughes saved the club thirty shillings on the day. Dyer got another couple of chances and showed a bit of form, but by mid-season found himself in the seconds. The seconds team was filled with players who were not quite league standard, but desperate to stay on at the club and earn an extra few shillings per week to support their families. They were not so amenable to sharing the ball with the new wonderboy and Dyer felt ostracised.
At one point, Dyer walked away from Richmond for a few weeks and returned to suburban football. Club secretary Percy Page persuaded him back by promising to clear any recalcitrant players. In the run up to the finals, with Richmond sitting second on the ladder, star ruckman Percy Bentley went down with an injury that ended his season. Hughes decided to take a gamble with his young protege, and included Dyer in the Tigers' team for the second semi final against Geelong. Playing mainly up forward, the unknown Dyer sneaked under the Cats' radar and played a great game, kicking three goals. However, circumstances were different in the Grand Final a fortnight later, again against Geelong. This time Geelong used their veteran hard man and coach "Bull" Coghlan playing on Dyer. Coghlan roughed up the youngster and gave him a footballing lesson – Dyer had only four touches for the day and admitted many years later to being totally intimidated. It was an experience he would not forget.
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