- Loss puts Richmond in mourning
- The couple had been married for 54 years
- Shared three daughters and a son
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The death of Richmond icon Kevin Bartlett’s wife Denise has plunged the football world into mourning, with Tigers CEO Brendon Gale revealing the sad news in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
“Richmond FC mourns the passing of Denise Bartlett. Denise was a treasured member of the Richmond family, and her strength, loyalty and unwavering support will be remembered forever,” Gale wrote on social media.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Kevin, Sharna, Cara, Breanna, Rhett and their families.”
Denise and Kevin Bartlett (pictured at an Australian Rules Football Hall of Fame ceremony in 2019) married in 1970 and shared three daughters and a son.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale praised Denise’s “strength, loyalty and unwavering support” in a heartfelt message as he announced the news Tuesday morning.
Denise was married to the Hall of Famer for 54 years and they shared three daughters and a son, all of whom were mentioned in Gale’s post.
It is not known how she died.
Bartlett is considered one of the greatest players in Aussie Rules history, amassing an incredible 403 matches for the Tigers from 1965 to 1983 and scoring 778 goals for the club.
Denise was a talented runner who married the star in Ascot Vale, a Melbourne suburb, in 1970.
Their daughters Sharna, Cara and Breanna were star athletes at the school, and their son Rhett is a broadcaster and writer turned Richmond club historian.
Kevin Bartlett (pictured playing in the 1980 Richmond Grand Final) is widely regarded as one of the greatest Australian players of all time.
Breanna made news in 2005 when she won all eight track and field events she competed in at the Associated Public Schools Championship, setting a new school record, and her sisters never lost a race during their years of school.
Bartlett won premierships with the Tigers in 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1980, and held the record for most games played in the AFL/VFL until his mark was broken by Michael Tuck.
He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the Australian Football Hall of Fame, won the Norm Smith Medal for best fielder in the 1980 grand final and was the Tigers’ best and fairest in 1967, 1968, 1973, 1974. and 1977.