In part two of a new feature series on richmondfc.com.au commemorating the release of the unique “Tommy’s Guns” nostalgic memorabilia piece, Tony Greenberg reflects on the heroic Grand Final deeds of Richmond ‘Immortal’ Francis Bourke, under the Club’s mighty four-time premiership coach Tommy Hafey.
Francis Bourke was in his debut season of league football when he took his place on the wing in Richmond’s 1967 Grand Final line-up against Geelong.
Earlier that season, the 20-year-old Bourke had actually played a few games as second rover to Kevin Bartlett. He was, however, subsequently moved to a wing, where he became an integral part of that famous centreline of Bourke, Barrot (Bill) and Clay (Dick).
Bourke won the Tigers’ Most Determined Player award in ’67 and it was his never-say-die attitude that held him in such good stead in the epic Grand Final encounter with Geelong.
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Richmond had a number of better players on the day, but none more dedicated to the cause than young Bourke, who, in trademark fashion gave his heart and soul to help his beloved Tigers break a 24-year premiership drought.
His statistical return was fairly modest - eight kicks, five handballs and one mark - but he also had plenty of those precious “one-percenters” that weren’t recorded back in those days.
Two years later, when Richmond defeated arch rival Carlton in the 1969 premiership decider, Francis Bourke again was a valuable contributor on the wing, gathering 17 possessions (13 kicks, four handballs) and taking six marks.
Even at that early stage, Bourke had established himself as one of the best wingmen in the competition - and he was a constant source of inspiration to the Tiger team with his tough, straight-ahead style of play, long kicking, and abundance of courage.
In 1973, the Tigers savored the sweet taste of revenge against arch rival Carlton in the premiership decider, following their shock 1972 Grand Final loss to the Blues, with Bourke typically shrugging off a leg injury to be one of the best afield.
To underline his versatility, by 1973, “St Francis”, as he’d now been dubbed, was providing the Richmond side with value-plus in a half-back role. On Grand Final day ’73 GF, St Francis had 13 kicks, three handballs, and he set the tone for the ‘junkyard dog’ mentality of the Tiger defence.
He barely gave his Carlton opponents room to spit, such was his defensive mindset, yet he was also ever-ready to run off and provide valuable rebound for the team.
The following year, Richmond revelled in the glory of a fourth premiership triumph under Tommy Hafey’s astute coaching guidance, with Bourke again extremely influential across half-back in the resounding Grand Final victory over North Melbourne.
He had 17 kicks, two handballs, and was instrumental in thwarting countless Kangaroo attacking thrusts, as well as continually driving the ball forward for the Tigers.
Richmond had become the first league club to achieve back-to-back premiership success since Melbourne in 1959-60, and Francis Bourke’s overall contribution to the Yellow and Black dominance had been substantial.
