Playing at Punt Road

[Puntrd64]

Seeing the stroies that old grounds and stands are to have money invested leads me to share this story. The first game of league football I can remember was Richmond v StKilda at the Punt rd ground in 1964 ( Hence my name puntrd64). I can only remember snippetts in my memory, Richmond players running down the race, charcoal on the slopes in front of the main stand and supporters standing on wooden fruit boxes. I know Richmond won by less than a goal and I think I remember Roger Dean being in the team. Richmond were not very good then and my father a third generation Tiger supporter suggested to me that as I did not take losing very well perhaps I should change my allegiance and follow Melbourne. ( I saw a Melbourne/ Essendon final at the G the same year). I was horrified to think of changing teams and who would have thought I would have missed Bourke Barrot Clay, '67,'69,73,74 and 80 !
Hart, Bartlett, Sheedy !! and all the other legends.

To our fellow PREnder "interested" the Demon supporter, I can only say my father still cannot believe Melbourne hasn't won a flag since then ! So Tiger supporters stay true, it is worth it !
(My son is now a fifth generation tiger and is learning patience).

 

[katchy]

I remember Richmond beating Melbourne who were the reigning premiers and top of the ladder back in 1960 or '61 when we were on the bottom. Ronnie Branton played a good game. He did a beautiful smother on a Melbouren player's set shot for goal. It was a very uplifting moment for a long suffering tiger supporter. I lived in Richmond and sold footy records at the station. Dad had a newstand there. Wwe used to collect bottles after the game and get a deposit from the milk bar in Swan Street.