With Richmond and Carlton ready to rumble in tonight’s blockbuster opening round clash at the ‘G, Tony Greenberg reflects on a titanic, controversial battle that the traditional rivals fought out to kick off the 1966 season.
Round 1, 1966 was a momentous day in Richmond’s history, with Tommy Hafey making his coaching debut for the Club, against Carlton at Princes Park (as it was then called).
The Tigers had finished fifth in 1965, with 10 wins and eight losses from their 18 games, while the Blues (in Ron Barassi’s first season as captain-coach) were sixth in ’65, also with 10 wins and eight losses.
All was in readiness for this crackerjack opening round match of the ’66 season, which took place on Anzac Day (Monday, April 25).
It was goal for goal right throughout the contest and the massive crowd revelled in the spectacle produced by these arch foes.
But it was the finish of the match that set this apart from your run-of-the-mill, season-opener thriller.
When Richmond time-keeper, Bill Stanborough went to push the button to sound the final siren, with the Tigers leading by a goal, nothing happened. With the siren broken, all hell broke loose.
Many years later, I asked another long-serving Richmond time-keeper, Roy Watkins, what actually happened in the frenetic final stages of the match.
Watkins, who has since passed away, officiated in the reserve-grade curtain-raiser that day.
“The time-keepers area at Princes Park had just been transferred to the scoreboard and I noticed before the game that there was no emergency bell in place – it was in a wheelbarrow under the scoreboard,” Watkins said.
“I was standing in the players’ race, watching the closing stages of the match with Charlie Priestley (Richmond committeeman), when I noticed Bill (Stanborough) waving his arms like mad.
“There was poor, old Bill desperately trying to attract the umpire’s attention, while Carlton’s time-keeper George Smith was just sitting back because the Blues were coming home pretty strongly.
“Realising that the siren had failed to sound, I flew on to the ground to tell Don Blew (the umpire) what had happened.
“But a policeman, thinking I was an intruder, gave chase to me on his horse.
“Fortunately, Don (Blew) knew me and realised that I wasn’t an intruder. He then looked up and saw Bill waving his arms.
“That’s when he signalled the game was over.”
Here’s what Noel McMahen, reporting in ‘Footy Week’ magazine, had to say about the enthralling encounter . . .
“Both Carlton and Richmond came out of their encounter with honors, but Richmond gained the four points.
It was a high class game and indicated that both teams are worthy final contenders.
The outstanding feature was the failure of the siren to sound at the end of the game. About five minutes extra time was played, but this did not affect the result as each side scored a goal.
Barassi appeared years younger as he controlled the Carlton forward line. If the Blues can afford to keep him there and relieve him of ruck duties they will benefit greatly.
I cannot recall a better opening League match. It had everything – marking, kicking and manly vigor.
GOOD VALUE:
Carlton: Barassi, Goold and Nicholls; Richmond: Crowe, Dean and Walford – in a very even side.
POOR VALUE:
Richmond: From the finals point of view the Tigers lack pace on the half-back line; Carlton: A lack of physical strength on their half-forward line.”
Match details
Richmond 3.4 7.6 11.7 16.10 (106)
Carlton 3.3 7.5 10.10 14.16 (100)
Goals – Richmond: Northey 3, Guinane 3, Swift 3, Warner 2, Dean 2, Barrot, Hogan, Dimattina; Carlton: Barassi 4, Quirk 2, Pleydell 2, Silvagni 2, Robertson, Nicholls, Gallagher, Thomas.
Umpire: Don Blew
Crowd: 43,018
