Throughout 2025, we are transporting Richmond supporters back 60 years to what was a pivotal season in the Club’s history – 1965. Today, we examine the Tigers’ clash with Hawthorn in Round 5 of the ’65 season through this match report in The Age newspaper by Chris Forsyth.

Richmond produced the characteristics of a tiger – speed, fluency and aggression – to down Hawthorn by 45 points at the M.C.G. on Saturday.

The Tigers had the advantage in most parts of the field and dominated the air.

Their hand passing and with it their backing up, shepherding and team work was a delight.

Hawthorn, for the most part, was utterly uncoordinated, and it was only in the teeth of its goal, thanks to the desperate defence of full-back Phil Hay and back-pocket Dave Parkin that it salvaged some of its reputation.

Richmond attacked on a wide front and went forward so often and with such creativeness that the Hawks were left floundering and bewildered.

Richmond’s marking supremacy was evidenced by the fact that in the third quarter the Tigers took 28 marks to Hawthorn’s 15.

Guinane was the master of Richmond’s forward line, both in the air and on the ground, and his good judgment and safe hands sent the Tigers into attack on many occasions.

Almost as effective were half-forward flanker Don Davenport, who kicked five goals; Barry Cameron, on the other flank, and Mike Hammond, who played elusively in the forward pocket when resting from the ruck.

The momentum for the Tigers’ moves came from the half-back line, where Roger Dean was unbeatable, and from the centre-line, where Bill Brown and Bill Barrot formed a perfect combination.

The hand-passing between these players and to others, such as rovers Frank Dimattina and Kevin Bartlett, was an inspiration, and in many cases better than a kick as it opened up play and brought team mates into the game at speeds that left Hawthorn flat-footed.

In the face of these odds the Hawks found it difficult to get going.

They were too often caught with the ball, and when they were on their own with it they could not pick it up.

The Hawks never gave up, but they must have been disheartened to see their attacks regularly turned back by Richmond’s rock-like defence.

In spite of this, Hawthorn got eight goals, and while some were due to the gallant efforts of individual players, the impression was that more than a few resulted from mistakes made by Richmond.

Match details
Richmond    4.7    9.9    9.15    14.21 (105)
Hawthorn    1.0    4.4    4.10    8.12 (60)

Goals – Richmond: Davenport 5, Dimattina 3, A. Richardson, Barrot, Patterson, Bartlett, Hammond, J. Perry.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Barrot 26, Guinane 24, Brown 23, Smith 22, Dimattina 19.
Best players – Richmond: Barrot (best on ground), Guinane, Dean, Brown, Dickeson, Hammond.

Goals – Hawthorn: Peck 2, Horskins 2, Law, Coverdale, Roach, O’Shea.
Leading disposal-winners – Hawthorn: Law 23, Olsson 22, Tickell 22, Roach 18.
Best players – Hawthorn: Hay, Parkin, Garwood, Tickell.