In the wake of St Kilda’s record-breaking, last-quarter comeback win against Melbourne at Marvel Stadium last Sunday, Tony Greenberg takes a look at the greatest final-term fightback victory in Richmond’s League football history.

In Round 8 of the 1947 season, Richmond ventured to the Lake Oval to take on South Melbourne.

The Tigers, under captain-coach Jack Dyer, were ninth on the ladder in the then 12-team competition with three wins and four losses.

South, coached by Bill Adams, also had three wins and four losses after seven home-and-away rounds, but were in seventh place on the ladder with a superior percentage.

The first half of the contest was relatively even, with the home team taking a 12-point lead into the long break.

In the third quarter, however, South seized total control, slamming on 6.3 to 2.2 to take a seemingly match-winning lead of 37 points into the last change.

But Richmond refused to concede defeat.

With “Captain Blood” at his inspirational best, champion ruckman Bill Morris dominating, and other Tigers lifting all over the ground, Richmond rallied in magnificent style, producing a seven goal to one final term to grab a remarkable four-point win – 15.13 (103) to 15.9 (99).

Here, from the archives of The Age newspaper, is the match report of the Tigers’ tremendous triumph by leading football writer Percy Beames.

Carrying all before it in a whirlwind finish, Richmond, after being 37 points down at three-quarter time, smashed through South Melbourne’s defences and smothered its rucks, centre line and forwards to slam on seven goals and six behinds and win dramatically by four points.

Great credit must go to the Tigers for their grand recovery, determined methods, stamina, gameness and ability to seize the initiative at a critical moment.

Up to then Richmond had been decisively outpointed in almost every phase of the game and trailing yards behind in the race for the ball by the brilliance of South Melbourne in a dazzling third term.

The sudden change of fortunes and complete form reversal by both sides in the last term was amazing.

As if awaiting a signal, Richmond players previously unsighted sprang into concerted action to unleash a paralysing finish which completely demoralised South.

Subjected to strong pressure, South’s earlier stars faded right out, the side wilted badly, and, robbed of an advantage in pace, its greatest asset all day, was forced into a chain of errors from which the wily Tigers were not slow to profit.

Magnificent ruck play by Morris began the revival, and (Max) Oppy, transferred from defence to attack, set Richmond’s goal-kicking tally in motion.

(Laurie) Taylor, from an acute angle, and Dyer, quickly followed, and Richmond’s deficit in only eight minutes was half reduced.

Shortly afterwards, Taylor, from a seething mass of players, extricated one foot to dribble the ball through, and when (Bill) Wilson, now a force roving, followed, Richmond’s grip of the game with only 12 minutes played was apparent.

Misses, one by Taylor and three by Wilson, brought groans from supporters, then a hushed silence fell as they watched breathlessly, a long left-foot snap by Taylor bounce towards the goals and obligingly turn in to give Richmond the lead.

Three minutes before time off Wilson snapped truly, to make the game safe, and, just before the bell, from one of the Southerners’ few sporadic advances, Spokes reduced South’s leeway to four points.

Match details
Richmond    2.1    6.5    8.7    15.13 (103)
South Melb     3.5    8.5    14.8    15.9 (99)

Goals – Richmond: Dyer 5, Taylor 5, Wilson 3, Poulter, Oppy.
Best players – Richmond: Durham, Taylor, Jones, Dyer, Stokes, Morris, Roberts.

Goals – South Melb: Williams 6, Strang 4, Clegg, Graham, Castles, Roulent, Spokes.
Best players – South Melb: Williams, Lawson, Bywater, King, Taylor, Clegg,

Attendance: 24,000