Throughout 2026, we are cranking up the Tigerland time machine and transporting yellow and black barrackers back to 1966 to relive a pivotal year in Richmond’s history.

We take a look today at the Tigers’ Round 3 fixture of the ’66 season against MCG co-tenant Melbourne through this match review that appeared in The Age newspaper by Peter Stone.

"Richmond achieved the essential of every League team against Melbourne on Saturday – it took four premiership points – but it still left its supporters wondering whether the Tigers will be a premiership threat this season.

Although the Tigers won by more than seven goals, their performance was not impressive against a Melbourne team that has been called one of the worst selected by the Demons for 10 years.

Richmond secretary, Mr. Graeme Richmond, said of his team’s performance: “It was shocking. We have a long way to go before we can be satisfied with the team as a League power.”

But to give credit where credit is due, Melbourne is not as bad a side as its performances in the first two games indicated.

The Demons kept the pressure on their more talented opponents for the greater part of the game, and it can safely be assumed that no side will find Melbourne an easy victim on the MCG this season.

Older players Tas Johnson and Brian Dixon, who had let the side down in the first two games, found form and gave confidence to the younger players.

And youngsters Morris Bartlett and Les Harrison played with the maturity of veterans, and will be the backbone of the revitalised of the Melbourne combination in future games.

Early in the third quarter, goals to Bartlett and half-forward Barry Vagg brought the Demons to within 16 points of Richmond, and the side was playing almost with the class of past years.

But Richmond answered the challenge with goals by Fred Swift, Roger Dean and Pat Guinane before Melbourne came back with further goals by Vagg and Barry Bourke.

The third quarter produced the best football of the match as both sides developed play-on systemic approaches to goal.

The Tigers sealed Melbourne’s fate last in the quarter with goals by Guinane, rover Kevin Bartlett, centreman Bill Barrot and half-forward John Northey.

Richmond learnt one thing from the game, its backline must develop more stability. Key defenders Bill Walfor and Ross Warner played poorly and will have to show marked improvement."

Match details
Richmond    4.2    7.8    14.10    18.15 (123)
Melbourne    2.3    3.5    7.8    11.14 (80)

Goals – Richmond: Bartlett 3, Guinane 3, Northey 3, Swift 3, Barrot 2, Dean 2, Clay, Dimattina.
Leading possession-winners – Richmond: Barrot 33, Dean 30, Bartlett 24, Cameron 21, Gowers 21.
Best – Richmond: Barrot (best on ground), Dean, Strang, Bartlett, Northey, Crowe, Swift.

Goals – Melbourne: Bartlett 3, Vagg 3, Kenneally 2, Bourke, Dillon, Vearing.
Leading possession-winners – Melbourne: Johnson 31, Dixon 24, Mann 21, Alves 17.
Best – Melbourne: Bartlett, Johnson, Dixon, Vearing, Alves, Harrison.

Attendance: 32,608