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’ decisive victory over Fitzroy in Round 8 of the ’65 season at the MCG through this match review in The Age newspaper by Peter Egan.

Fitzroy put up a great fight in the first half of its match against Richmond at the MCG on Saturday but then allowed the Tigers handball and strength to get the upper hand for the rest of the game.

Richmond ran away in the second half to a 68-point win.

Throughout the day Richmond’s pace coupled with good handball told on the Lions, who were never able to counter it.

Although there were times when the handball was a complete waste, it usually enabled the Tigers to race up the ground towards goals without being checked.

Fitzroy’s biggest let-down was in attack. Time and again lack of a little system and certainly lack of accurate kicking stopped it from going ahead.

Richmond’s centre half-forward Paddy Guinane gave the Tigers a great game, particularly in the first half when Ralph Rogerson wandered.

It was obvious later in the game that Guinane was more subdued when Rogerson spent more time in position.

Rogerson himself played a great captain’s game.

Fitzroy generally won around the packs, where John Newnham was a driving force and a thorn in Richmond’s side. However, Richmond’s bigger men provided a problem for Fitzroy.

John Northey on a half-forward flank, was quiet in the first quarter when opposed by Brian Pert. But he cut loose in the second half with five goals, kicking seven for the game.

In the last quarter, as the Lions slipped further and further behind, many Richmond players were left unattended.

Some interesting Tiger tidbits from the match...

• Richmond kicked the sweep (highest score by a team in the round) for the second week in-a-row, also having scored 21 goals seven days earlier against North Melbourne.
• John Northey made it 12 goals from his past two games, with five coming in the previous round v the Kangaroos.
• Kevin Bartlett booted multiple goals in a League match for the first time.
• New recruit from Collingwood, Mick Erwin, scored three goals for a second successive game.
• Graeme Burgin made his senior League debut at 17 years and 62 days of age.

Match details
Richmond   5.5   8.7   15.10   21.17 (143)
Fitzroy   1.5   6.8   7.13   10.15 (75)

Goals – Richmond: Northey 7, Dimattina 3, Erwin 3, Bartlett 2, A. Richardson 2, Brown, Guinane, Patterson, Warner.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: A. Richardson 28, Davenport 25, Guinane 23, Brown 22.
Best players – Richmond: Northey, A. Richardson, Guinane, Cameron, Busse, Brown, Bartlett.

Goals – Fitzroy: Fry 2, Lazarus 2, A. Lynch 2, Brady, Hackwill, Hayton, Newnham.
Leading disposal-winners – Fitzroy: Rogerson 24, Calverley 22, A. Lynch 22, Newnham 21.
Best players – Fitzroy: Newnham, A. Lynch, Rogerson, Booth, R. Lynch, Calverley, Brady.

Attendance: 20,649