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’ victory over reigning premier Melbourne in Round 12 of the ’65 season at the MCG. Here is the match report that appeared in The Age newspaper by Peter Stone.

Richmond forgot about its “brotherly love” towards Melbourne on Saturday and took over the Demons mantle of top resident team of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Tigers won by six points, but this was not a true indication of their superior play. In fact, Richmond was a five-goal better side than the Demons.

Richmond proved itself a top side by outplaying Melbourne for most of the game and, when Melbourne made a comeback in the last quarter, the Tigers fought back when other teams may have folded under pressure.

With five minutes to play Demon half-forward Barry Vagg kicked his third goal for the quarter to put Melbourne a point behind.

But the Richmond players gritted their teeth and their victory was cemented when Roger Dean accepted a well-directed hand pass from captain Neville Crowe and kicked the deciding goal.

Melbourne, realising time was running out, raced the ball to the forward line for Graeme Jacobs to kick a point. The tight Richmond defence cleared the ball from the kick off and the Tigers were in attack when the siren went.

It was a mature team of footballers who won the game for Richmond, and, if the rain had not come, the margin probably would have been much bigger.

Richmond won because of its greater ruck strength, overall pace, watertight defence and because its players seemed keener to win the ball.

In the first quarter before it started raining, Richmond ran rings around its slower Melbourne opponents.

Big Pat Guinane, at centre half-forward, was holding his marks and pushing Richmond into attack constantly, and only poor kicking by the Tigers allowed Melbourne to finish the quarter 10 points down.

Melbourne fought its way back into the game in the second quarter when rain made the ground slippery and the ball hard to handle. Richmond slowed up and Melbourne kicked 3.0 to level the scores at half-time.

Again in the third quarter Richmond gained the ascendancy, but could not kick goals. Points to Frank Dimattina, John Sheahan and Guinane were added before John Northey flashed into play and kicked two quick goals.

Richmond relaxed at the start of the final quarter and Melbourne swung into action and posted 4.1 to the Tigers’ 1.1, before the Richmon players took stock and tightened their game.

The Tigers showed better backing up in the wet, and using clever hand passes in the difficult conditions, developed a loose man on their forward line.

Follower Alan “Bull” Richardson was the instigator of these moves and his timely interceptions and hand passes made him best player afield.

Melbourne did not get its usual drive from wingman Brian Dixon, who was beaten by interstate player Bill Brown.

And Melbourne was let down badly on the forward line. Players were often badly positioned and it was easy for Richmond full-back Fred Swift and back-pocket Neil Busse to clear.

Demon rover John Townsend was a constant trier for Melbourne, and back-pocket Neil Crompton cleared the ball on many occasions as it came off the hands of the pack.

Match details
Richmond    3.6    4.8    7.11    9.12 (66)
Melbourne    2.2    5.2    5.4    9.6 (60)

Goals – Richmond: Erwin 2, Northey 2, Brown, Davenport, Dean, Dimattina, Sheahan.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Davenport 27, Dimattina 26, A. Richardson 23, Dean 20, Guinane 20.
Best players – Richmond: A. Richardson (best on ground), Dimattina, Swift, Brown, Busse, Guinane.

Goals – Melbourne: Vagg 3, Lord 2, Townsend 2, Leitch, Vearing.
Leading disposal-winners – Melbourne: Townsend 23, Jacobs 20, Vagg 18, Williams 18.
Best players – Melbourne: Townsend, Crompton, T. Johnson, Emselle, McLean, Wise.

Attendance: 36,839