We continue our 2017 pre-season special series, reliving Richmond’s build-up to the glorious, drought-breaking 1967 premiership triumph. From the archives of ‘The Age’ newspaper, we present a news item about the Tigers, published exactly 50 years ago today (March 17, 1967).

“Richmond’s Mick Erwin, who has played most of his football on the forward line, will be tried as a full-back in the Tigers’ main practice game on Sunday.

The full-forward positions in the practice game will be filled by Fred Swift and Royce Hart from the Reserves.

Forward Neil Busse, half-forward Roger Dean and centreman Bill Barrot, who missed last weekend’s practice game, will play on Sunday.

Five others – Frank Dimattina, Blair Campbell, Neville Crowe, Geoff Strang and Dick Clay – will miss the trial.

Dimattina has a strained thigh muscle, Campbell a knee injury and Crowe, Clay and Strang have bruised heels.

The form of two Prahran recruits, centreman Kevin Sheedy and defender Kevin Shinners, will be watched with interest on Sunday.”