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.

Our focus today is on the Tigers’ Round 6 match of the ’66 season against South Melbourne at the MCG. Here is a review of the game that appeared in The Age newspaper by Trevor Davis...

"Richmond, clearly the better side, won well at the end, but only after it had helped to keep South Melbourne in the game for three quarters with inaccurate kicking for goal.

One goal from six shots in the first quarter and only four from six scoring shots in the second, shows just how spendthrift its forwards were with the many opportunities they received.

It was a fault that caused Richmond to struggle unnecessarily hard for results, and it flattered the Swans at three-quarter time when they were only two points down.

On general play to that point they should never have been close enough to threaten Richmond with defeat.

Fortunately for the Tigers their forwards suddenly got on target in the final term, and rained goals on South to the tune of 5.1 to 1.2, putting the issue beyond doubt.

While this belated discovered accuracy was invaluable, it really only put the seal on the Tigers’ victory.

The main reason for the last quarter success lay further afield in the creativeness of a winning centre line and rucks and half-forwards who finally found something like their true form.

The Swans produced many brilliant bursts of play which contributed substantially to a spectacular, fast game.

But the most scintillating football – as Richmond could well have discovered – counts for little unless it puts goals on the board.

And this is where, apart from the first quarter, the Swans fell down.

They simply lacked overall strength in attack and this was far more disability than Richmond’s inaccuracy.

Certainly full-forward Austin Robertson gave South full value with four goals from limited opportunities, but no other forward was capable of achieving consistent results against Richmond’s defence.

After trailing by 19 points going into the second quarter, the Tigers took such control of the game they kicked 4.6 while the Swans remained scoreless, until Robertson snapped two quick goals in the time-on period.

This pattern was repeated again in the final term.

The Tigers had 4.1 on the board in the first 23 minutes of play before South scored a point and the Swans’ one goal for the quarter did not come until the time-on period.

The Tigers shut South’s forwards right out of the game for such long periods of play, that the final result was almost inevitable.

Undoubtedly the Swans missed the talented roving of captain-coach Bob Skilton and, even more, his ability to knit the side’s forward play together.

The Tigers had their problems apart from inaccuracy. They were surprisingly outmarked in the first half and had to detour around South centre half-back Jeff Bray when attacking.

South centreman Max Papley was another stumbling block until Roger Dean was switched there after half-time. Papley still play well, but Dean won many kicks and brought his half-forwards into the game."

Match details
Richmond   1.5   5.11   7.15   12.16 (88)            
South Melbourne   4.6   6.6   8.7   9.9 (63)

Goals – Richmond: Guinane 4, Dimattina 2, Bartlett, Brown, Dean, Hammond, Northey, Sheahan.
Leading possession-winners – Richmond: Dean 25, Dimattina 23, Crowe 21, Sheahan 19, Brown 18, A. Richardson 18.
Best – Richmond: Dean (best on ground), Crowe, Brown, Bartlett, Dimattina, Guinane.

Goals – South Melbourne: Robertson 4, Sarich 2, Lucev, Magee, Parker.
Leading possession-winners – South Melbourne: Papley 21, Lucev 20, Magee 19, John 18, Parker 18.
Best – South Melbourne: Papley, Way, Bray, Harrison, Robertson, Sarich.

Attendance: 45,256