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 take a look at the Tigers’ big clash with arch-rival Collingwood at the MCG in Round 15 of the ’66 season, via this match report that appeared in The Age newspaper by Nigel Balfe.

Twenty-five minutes after the start of play at the MCG on Saturday Richmond was a happy side. It was 21 points up and looked to have Collingwood beaten.

Twenty-five playing minutes later the Tigers were a badly rattled bunch – 14 points down and wondering what had struck them.

What had happened was that they had run head-on into a football team, and on the day they simply did not have the equipment to match 18 Collingwood players combining as a team.

They had built their first term lead because in a game reminiscent of a “kick and mark” match of the 30’s, they had the big men capable of beating Collingwood at this style of football.

They won in the air all over the field in this period, and they had the edge in the packs and hit-outs, they were faster to the ball, looked sharper and had the only active rover on the field.

But it was very much a big man’s game – rather slow and ponderous – and with little attempt being made to develop any sort of play-on football.

While it tried to match the Tigers in this sort of clash, Collingwood looked to be in desperate trouble.

It had only Ray Gabelich to match Richmond in the ruck, its lack of physical pace was a glaring weakness, its rovers were almost unsighted and its attack was completely haphazard.

Had the style of football remained unchanged throughout the match the Tigers probably would have retained their control, but once the Magpies decided to modernise the game that was the end of it.

Possibly the sudden change in the game started with Len Thompson. He lifted his form in the ruck and with two big men now giving them the chances Collingwood’s smaller players took over.

With Colin Tully, Barry Price and Wayne Richardson starring Collingwood took complete control across the centre and around the packs, and in a flash the “machine” was in operation.

What followed must have made coach Bob Rose very happy, because it was absolute proof of a claim he has often made...that Collingwood is a fast side because it can move the ball quickly.

Any lack of pace among individual players had no effect on the Magpies’ game, because the ball was driven forward in a flash by hand and foot.

All over the field players fitted into a great team effort, creating the loose man, moving past to take the pass, playing on all the time as the ball was whipped about, and leaving Richmond trailing far behind.

Richmond showed it had realised what was going on by falling into the same pattern of play after half time.

It held Collingwood in the third term and for most of the last in a great battle well worthy of two top teams, and it certainly went down fighting.

But all the time it had to concede Collingwood an edge in class. It also lacked damaging players like Tully, Price and Richardson, and it had too many men who failed to produce on the day.

Match details
Richmond   5.3   7.5   9.5   13.8 (86)
Collingwood   1.6   9.7   11.8   16.9 (105)

Goals – Richmond: Guinane 4, Bartlett 2, Busse 2, Erwin 2, Hogan 2, Clay.
Leading possession-winners – Richmond: Cameron 23, Dean 23, Gahan 18, Clay 17, Crowe 16.
Best – Richmond: Guinane, Cameron, Clay, Crowe, M. Perry, Strang, Dean.

Goals – Collingwood: W. Richardson 3, Wallis 3, Graham 2, Price 2, Searl 2, Tully 2, Gabelich, Tuddenham.
Leading possession-winners – Collingwood: Tully 23, Tuddenham 22, W. Richardson 21, Wallis 19, Thompson 18, Price 17.
Best – Collingwood: Tully (best on ground), Price, Thompson, Richardson, Hill, Tuddenham, Boyne.

Attendance: 73,834