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.

Today, we look at the Tigers’ epic content with Essendon at Windy Hill in Round 10 of the ’66 season through this match report in The Age newspaper by Peter Stone.

"Essendon paid off an old score against Richmond on Saturday with a four points win – but only after the pendulum of victory had swung in the Bombers’ favor in the dying minutes of the game.

It was sweet revenge for Essendon after having been beaten twice by Richmond in its premiership year last season.

But victory could have gone wither way in a game which see-sawed throughout...first it was Richmond on top, then Essendon, and this was the pattern from start to finish.

The lead changed hands five times in an action-packed final quarter, but finally it was the Bombers who wrenched an eight-point advantage away from the Tigers in the time-on period.

It was no place for faint hearts in the last quarter, as players from bit sides tore into packs regardless of personal risks.

The atmosphere was like a finals match on the MCG.

Recounting the memorable last quarter, Essendon started off 14 points in front, and it looked as though the game was all over.

But Richmond was irrepressible. Within four minutes the Tigers had kicked three goals – one each to wingmen Bill Brown and Roger Dean, and another to rover Peter Hogan.

It was now Essendon’s turn. Full-forward Ted Fordham kicked his fourth goal to put the Bombers two points up, but Richmond rover Frank Dimattina replied to put the Tigers in front again.

Another goal to Hogan and it looked like the end. But the Bombers fought back magnificently in the dying minutes to add 2.1 with goals to John Willians and John Somerville, and a point to John Birt.

They were five points in front, but Richmond was not finished. It pressed forward for a point to centreman Bill Barrot.

Then it was all over.

Essendon had nine more scoring shots than the Tigers and won in more positions around the ground. It could be said the Bombers would have been unlucky to lose.

They won because they effectively blanketed Richmond’s two most damaging players, forward Pat Guinane and centreman Barrot.

Guinane scored only 1.2, although playing at times in a forward pocket, full-forward and centre half-forward. He was well held throughout by ruckman Charlie Payne and full-back Greg Brown.

Essendon started with Don McKenzie on Barrot in the centre, Jack Clarke in a forward pocket and David Shaw ruck-roving.

Barrot was crashed to the ground twice in the early minutes and was never able to play a dominating role after this.

Essendon’s half-back line of Geoff Pryor, Alec Epis and Barry Davis gave little away and virtually the only way Richmond could score was by going over the heads of this line.

Again Warragul recruit Alan Noonan showed his class, and was one of Essendon’s best players. In him Essendon had a man through whom it could direct its attacks.

And when Noonan was covered by the Richmond defence, half-forward John Somerville came into the game to cut the Tiger back lines to ribbons.

Match details
Richmond   4.2   8.4   10.5   15.6 (96)
Essendon   3.2   6.5   11.13   14.16 (100)

Goals – Richmond: Dimattina 4, Clay 2, Hogan 2, Warner 2, Brown, Dean, Guinane, Northey, B. Richardson.
Leading possession-winners – Richmond: Barrot 28, Brown 28, Hogan 17, Northey 17, Dimattina 16, A. Richardson 16.
Best – Richmond: Brown, Madigan, Dimattina, Strang, A. Richardson, Barrot.

Goals – Essendon: Fordham 4, Somerville 3, Clarke 2, Noonan 2, Birt, Forsyth, Williams.
Leading possession-winners – Essendon: Egan 23, Shaw 21, Birt 20, Somerville 18, Noonan 17, Payne 17.
Best – Essendon: Egan (best on ground), Noonan, Brown, Somerville, Payne, Pryor, Epis, McKenzie.

Attendance: 20,579