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 turn our attention today to the Tigers’ Round 14 clash with MCG co-tenant Melbourne in Round 14 of the ’66 season. Here is the match report that appeared in The Age newspaper by leading football writer Greg Hobbs.
"Anyone would have thought Melbourne was fighting to avoid eviction from the MCG by the way it battled gamely against its “glamor” boarder Richmond on Saturday.
The Demons, for so long ruler of the massive stadium, jumped into the fray as if they had been served with a “Play well or get out” notice.
Richmond won the match by 25 points, but all the talk after the match was not about the Tigers – it was centred around Melbourne’s brilliant showing for a down-the-list side.
Melbourne at times demoralised Richmond with its magnificent speed and play-on game. The Demons played the best football of the day, but broke down in attack.
The Tigers had no more of the play, yet still won with a fair bit to spare. This was because they were more constructive when the ball reached the scoring zone.
From a premiership angle it was a pretty sad day for Richmond.
Richmond lined up with positional changes. Barry Cameron was at centre half-forward and Dick Clay on a forward flank.
In the first quarter Cameron was convincingly beaten by Ken Rowe, but the Tigers quickly woke to the situation and swung Cameron on to the ball.
Cameron looked out of his depth at centre half-forward but when he was switched to a ruck-roving role in the second quarter, Richmond started to function.
Cameron was an immediate success and his drive from all parts of the field kept Melbourne under pressure.
There were also other Richmond moves during the second quarter – Bill Barrot to the centre and Roger Dean to a forward flank. But these two players did not have any real influence on the game.
Melbourne had a lot of good players, the best being captain Hassa Mann, ruckman Tassie Johnson, Bryan Kenneally and Rowe.
Match details
Richmond 2.4 5.6 9.12 14.13 (97)
Melbourne 3.3 4.6 6.8 10.12 (72)
Goals – Richmond: Bartlett 4, Erwin 2, Hogan 2, Cameron, Clay, Dean, Guinane, Northey, Ronaldson.
Leading possession-winners – Richmond: Gahan 23, Barrot 22, Cameron 20, Davenport 19, Northey 19,
Best – Richmond: Cameron, Clay, Bartlett, Madigan, Strang, Northey, Dean.
Goals – Melbourne: Emselle 2, Mann 2, Osborne 2, Burston, Leahy, Stone, Vagg.
Leading possession-winners – Melbourne: Mann 25, Leahy 24, Bourke 22, Emselle 22, Foster 19.
Best – Melbourne: Mann (best on ground), Johnson, Kenneally, Rowe, Bourke, Leahy, Osborne.
Attendance: 35,460
