To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1969 premiership, richmondfc.com.au is transporting Yellow and Black barrackers back in time throughout 2019 to follow the Punt Road path to that fabulous flag triumph. Today, we look at Footy Week’s review of the Tigers’ Round 12 match in the ’69 season against Essendon. The clash took place at Windy Hill on Saturday, June 28, 1969, before a crowd of 17,020. Here’s how Footy Week scribe, Tom Lahiff, reviewed Richmond’s nine-point loss under the heading: “TOOTHLESS TIGERS”.
“You can write off Richmond as Final Four prospects. Essendon saw to that at Windy Hill.
The Dons counted the Tigers out by lifting their game in the second half. A few of their traditionally-good players found form and they were able to steer through some long goals.
As a spectacle, it was a poor game, with both sides having trouble handling the ball. Obviously, the wind contributed to the mistakes, but Essendon, by reputation a clever side, should have done better.
Richmond have amazed me this season. One week they look very good; next Saturday they fall away to nothing. Too many of their “name” players are out of form; and so much is being left to so few.
Pre-match changes, that are making fools out of Friday morning’s papers, were on again. Don McKenzie went on to Royce Hart and Geoff Pryor was switched into the ruck. Pryor warmed up in the ruck before they put him back on Hart and he was able to keep the Richmond champ out of the game – save for the crucial moments when Hart fired and all but dragged it out of the fire.
Barry Richardson was a brick wall for Richmond. He beat Bruce Lake, Robin Close and Peter Daniel in turn, and it was left to young Headlam, who replaced Pryor at three-quarter time, to take a mark against him.
Kevin Sheedy, who is having a run of outs, could not pace it with Bob Greenwood.
Ian Owen, Geoff Strang and John Ferguson could not match it with Les Stillman, Robin Close and Peter Daniel, and this gave the Bombers a slight edge.
Alan Noonan had the call early over Francis Bourke, but the Richmond man did a lot better in the second half.
The centerline duels found Dick Clay in top form for Richmond and Rod Hampson doing good things for the Dons. Neither Bill Barrot nor Geoff Blethyn could get into the game at centre, but Blethyn came good on a wing in the last quarter. His goal from 60 yards out lifted the Bombers. Graeme Bond and Paul Sproule broke even on their wing.
John Williams was too good for Mike Perry, but Roger Dean and Wayne Judd kept Doug Tassell and Ken Fletcher very busy.
Daryl Gerlach had too much experience for Graham Robbins and Stuart Barclay showed promise in a back pocket.
Don McKenzie and Mike Green did a lot of good work for their sides and were well backed up by respective ruck-rovers, Barry Davis and Mike Bowden.
Kevin Bartlett is still getting a lot of kicks, but his disposal has fallen apart; Geoff Gosper played his usual handy game.
Summing up, I’d say that Essendon’s young players will lift the side and that the Bombers will soon be a danger team.
Match details
Richmond 1.4 4.6 5.8 7.12 (54)
Essendon 1.3 2.7 4.12 8.15 (63)
Goals – Richmond: Dean 2, Judd 2, Hart, Perry, Robbins.
Best – Richmond: Clay, Dean, B. Richardson, Bartlett, Green.
Richmond player statistics
Kevin Sheedy: 8 kicks, 0 handballs, 1 mark
Barry Richardson: 7 kicks, 3 handballs, 6 marks
Ian Owen: 14 kicks, 3 handballs, 5 marks
Geoff Strang: 7 kicks, 1 handball, 1 mark
Francis Bourke: 16 kicks, 2 handballs, 2 marks
John Ferguson: 6 kicks, 2 handballs, 2 marks
Graeme Bond: 12 kicks, 4 handballs, 2 marks
Bill Barrot (off): 11 kicks, 4 handballs, 3 marks
Dick Clay: 28 kicks, 2 handballs, 9 marks
Roger Dean: 16 kicks, 4 handballs, 5 marks
Royce Hart: 9 kicks, 1 handball, 5 marks
Wayne Judd (off): 14 kicks, 2 handballs, 2 marks
John Ronaldson: 10 kicks, 3 handballs, 3 marks
Mike Perry: 7 kicks, 0 handballs, 3 marks
Graham Robbins: 8 kicks, 1 handball, 2 marks
Michael Green: 13 kicks, 5 handballs, 9 marks
Mike Bowden: 7 kicks, 14 handballs, 2 marks
Kevin Bartlett: 26 kicks, 3 handballs, 0 marks
George McInnes, 19th man: 0 kicks, 0 handballs, 0 marks
Brian Shinners, 20th man: 1 kick, 0 handballs, 0 marks
