RFC - FORTY YEARS AGO, 1967

[Growl]

JOHN’S BIG CHANCE
By KEVIN HOGAN (The Sun)​

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TOM HAFEY confers with his ruck division at the MCG. From left: Ronaldson, Hafey,
Bull Richardson, Brown (back to camera), Green, Crowe, Bartlett and Patterson (partly obscured).
It is thought Ronaldson will get ruck berth over Green.​

John Ronaldson may beat Michael Green by an inch for selection in Richmond’s team for Saturday’s League Grand Final against Geelong.

This was a strong tip in the Tigers’ camp last night, although selectors have said they will wait until tomorrow night to make any decision.

Ronaldson, 20, 6.5, 16.0, and Green, 19, 6.4, 15.0, have been competing for selection ever since they steppes up from the Under 19 team to senior training list in 1965.

Ronaldson held an edge last year when he had 13 senior games, but Green got in front this year when he played in every game until put out of the second semi-final by a sudden and completely unexpected attack of fibrositis in the shoulder.

Ronaldson’s extra inch in height may win him the selectors’ nod for the job of rucking against Geelong’s big men, Polly Farmer and Chris Mitchell.

The Tigers realise that Michael Patterson, 6.5, must have strong support against Farmer, 6.3, and Mitchell, 6.4.

Green became a back line specialist this season because Neville Crowe, who will miss the Grand Final because of suspension after the second semi-final, and Patterson took turns to ruck with shorter ruck-rovers as Partners.

Tony Jewell, one of the men used as a ruck-rover, stepped into green’s back line job in the second semi-final. Although less than 6.0, Jewell may hold this job.

He is a tougher and more experienced defender than Green and often upsets dangerous opposing forwards by fierce tackling.

If Jewell can’t stop Farmer or Mitchell kicking goals from the forward pocket, Patterson and Ronaldson (or
Green if he is chosen), may have to go to defence when out of the ruck.

 

[Growl]

OUTED TIGER HELPS SIDE

Suspended Richmond ruckman Neville Crowe seems likely to play an important part
in choosing his replacement in the team for Saturday’s League Grand Final.​

At training on the MCG last night, Crowe was in charge of tests designed to help selectors choose between John Ronaldson and Michael Green, leading aspirants for the vacant job.

Crowe had a long talk to the young ruckmen and their more experienced partners, Michael Patterson and Alan Richardson. Then Crowe played the part of boundary umpire and tossed in the ball for hitting-out contests between Ronaldson and Green.

Occasionally the young players were pitted against Patterson, who will be first ruckman on Saturday. Senior coach Tom Hafey watched the try-outs, but it was Crowe who gave the players instructions and advised them how to go about their work.

The hitting-out ability of the players seemed fairly even, except that Ronaldson appeared quicker to get into the front position.

Later, Crowe had charge of goal-kicking practice, in which Ronaldson and Green tried to put the ball through from acute angles. Neither player kicked well enough to suggest he could become a star forward.

Ronaldson’s torpedo punts were longer, but Green’s drop punts appeared straighter. Ronaldson and Green worked hard in general training before the special ruck practice.

Patterson’s marking was noticeable and back pocket Roger Dean, centre Bill Barrot and winger *smile* Clay were others who showed excellent training form.

Only absentee was Francis Bourke who had a run at Nathalia. Bourke will come from his country home for training tomorrow.

Reserves centre player Eric Moore was treated for soreness in the right knee, and the doctor advised him to have an x-ray as a precaution. But he is expected to play in the Reserves Grand Final on Saturday.

Hafey was so satisfied with the form and condition of all players that he decided against training today. The Tigers hope to be allowed to finish their preparation with another training session at the MCG tomorrow evening.

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Pictured: John Ronaldson (right) and Neville Crowe go for a hit out during training at the MCG. Ronaldson is expected to take Crowe’s place in the side for the Grand Final against Geelong.

 

[Growl]

THIS IS IT – HAFEY
By Murray Cadan (The Herald)​

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These two little men, Tom Hafey, (5 ft. 8½ in.) and Peter Pianto (5.6½) have the big job on Saturday — coaching the VFL Grand Final teams, Richmond and Geelong.

Both know what premierships are all about . . .

HAFEY coached Shepparton to three successive flags before taking over at Richmond last year . . .

PIANTO as one of Geelong’s greatest rovers, played in their 1951 and 1952 premiership sides in his first two years of League football.

Both, of course, reckon that another premiership is coming up but whatever the result, about 100,000 people at the MCG on Saturday will see the League’s two most skilful and fastest sides battle it out.

Tiger coach Tom Hafey knows how to win premierships.

If Richmond take the flag on Saturday it will be the fourth Premiership team Hafey has coached in the past five years. Before going to Richmond at the beginning of last season Hafey had coached Shepparton to three premierships in a row.

He played 65 games with Richmond as a rover and back-pocket during the 1950s. “Richmond missed out last year simply because we were not good enough,” he says. “This year the only thing that can lose it for us is bad luck. With ordinary luck we’ll win.”

Richmond have been planning this premiership for five years. “We have devolped a play-on style of game which started when Graeme Richmond came to the club as secretary,” Hafey says. “When I played we didn’t have a style. It takes about four or five years to find the right players and build a successful pattern of play.”

Hafey puts a tremendous amount of time and energy into football and expects his players to do the same. He watches every sports panel program and replay. If a criticism of a Richmond player is made he takes it back to the player and throws it at him.

He supports VFA team Port Melbourne and sometimes takes Richmond players along to their games on Sundays to point things out. In the summer he keeps a check on the progress of Richmond players at gymnasiums.

He is married with three daughters and is a sales representative with a printing firm.

*​

Geelong coach Peter Pianto was one of the club’s greatest rovers.

He broke into a Geelong team which won premierships in his first two seasons (1951 and 1952) and soon established himself as a star.

Nicknamed “Pint” he was a nuggety 5 ft. 6½ in., noted for his determination and speed in breaking away from packs.

He was runner-up to Peter Box for the 1956 Brownlow Medal and received an All-Australian blazer following outstanding performances in the 1956 Autralian football carnival. He retired from League football in 1957 after playing 130 games.

Although he himself has been given credit for putting more devil into the Geelong team over the past two seasons, Pianto stresses that it is “a good team which makes a good coach”.

The key to his coaching is that he believes true skill will beat brute force.

He places great emphasis on pace and fitness. “Players must be quick thinkers with pace over the first 10 yards – that is all important.”

He thinks accurate disposal after a fast break away can create the first of a chain of loose man moves which can demoralise any backline.

“I believe tackling has to be fierce but we should not get away from the point that football ought to be played as it was meant to be played – to provide a good spectacle.”

He works in a gun shop in Geelong which is being converted into a general sports store, and is married with three young children.

 

[Growl]

TIGERS ARE “HOT” TIP FOR PENNANT
By Rex Pullen​

Three League captains — Hassa Mann (Melbourne), Darrel Baldock (St Kilda) and Bob Skilton (South Melbourne) — think Geelong will win the VFL premiership.

The other seven skippers are just as sure Richmond will take the flag.

Meanwhile . . . the opposing captains have their say:

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FRED SWIFT (Richmond): I feel our taller and stronger centreline, capped off by two good rovers around the ground, a tight half-back line and brilliant forward players will bring the Tigers a premiership for the first time in 24 years.

POLLY FARMER (Geelong): Geelong will go into the Grand Final as an underdog, and this will be an advantage because it will be a tremendous spur to the team to prove all its critics wrong. Although Richmond has beaten us fairly easily at our last two meetings, the wins have resulted from short bursts. We have learned from our mistakes and are itching to get a third try to redeem ourselves.

 

[Growl]

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It’s a free kick to Dad . . . you can’t grab him by the ear.

The little girl is 19-months-old Natalie,
daughter of Richmond back-pocket player, Roger Dean.

Picture by Herald football photographer Bob Buchanan​

 

[Growl]

THE TIGERS GET THEM IN​

Richmond, who play off for the premiership on Saturday, are the League’s biggest drawcard.

This year 579,480 watched their home-and-away games.

Next best is Collingwood with 544,306. The followed St Kilda 504,500: Carlton 490,843; followed by Melbourne 445,487.

Highest home-round attendance this year was 71,946 at the Richmond v. Collingwood game at the MCG. Collingwood won by seven points.

 

[Growl]

1967 GRAND FINAL TEAMS – Richmond v. Geelong​

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[Growl]

RONALDSON GETS PLACE, BUT . . .
By KEVIN HOGAN (The Sun)​

RICHMOND selectors last night went as close as they could to picking two men to replace suspended ruck star Neville Crowe.

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John Ronaldson [pictured at training], 20, 6.5, 16.0, only other man on the list as tall as Crowe, went into the team for tomorrow’s League Grand Final against Geelong.

And Michael Green, 19, 6.4, 15.0, who played in 17 of the 18 home-and-away games, was named as 19th man.

Geelong selectors were satisfied about the fitness of star half-back Denis Marshall, and did not change the side which won last Saturday’s preliminary final. Gordon Hynes, who was placed at half-forward and used as third rover last Saturday, was named in a forward pocket for tomorrow.

This means that Colin Eales, who will begin tomorrow’s game on a half-forward flank, has lost the second rover’s job to Hynes.

Selection of Ronaldson to fill Crowe’s place in the Richmond team was no great surprise, although he was dropped from the senior side after the first four games this season.

Michael Patterson and not Green, who was retained in the side as a “set” defender, pushed Ronaldson out. Patterson did not get into the team this year until Crowe was injured and missed the fourth game of the season.

He played so well that when Crowe came back for the next game it was Ronaldson who had to stand aside. Ronaldson went back to the Reserves and has been playing in the ruck each week.

Patterson went from strength to strength in the senior side, and virtually took the job of No. 1 follower from Crowe, although the selectors sometimes named Crowe in the first ruck and Patterson in the forward pocket.

When Crowe’s form faltered in the middle of the season, Ronaldson was close to being recalled.

But the Tigers looking ahead to the finals, kept Crowe playing because he always was a “big occasion” player, and was the man most likely to curb or even cancel out the ruck power of opposing stars like Polly Farmer, John Nicholls and Len Thompson.

It was an unlucky break for Richmond — and, of course, for Crowe — that the VFL tribunal should show him no mercy when he was reported for the first time in his long career after the second semi-final.

But Ronaldson, the young player marked down as Crowe’s successor, now has his chance, and there is no reason to think he will not do well.

Green can be counted unlucky because a sudden and completely unheralded attack of shoulder fibrositis put him out of the second semi-final after he had been selected. But his withdrawal did not seem to disturb the Tigers.

Tony Jewell was switched from a half-forward flank to the back line, and tall Barry Richardson brought in. Jewell is strong and tough, but lacks the height and marking judgment of Green.

How Jewell handles the job of stopping Geelong’s Chris Mitchell, 6.4, and Polly Farmer, 6.3, taking marks in the forward pocket could have a big influence on tomorrow’s game.

Patterson’s high marking in the forward pocket provides an extra prong for the Richmond attack, and it might upset the Tigers’ plans if he has to be sent to the back line to guard Mitchell or Farmer.

 

[Growl]

TOWN HALL IN READINESS​

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John Ronaldson went to Richmond Town Hall to see the decorations put up by the council
in the team’s honor. Here, he signs balloons for Central Richmond State School children,
from left: Helen Latis, 11; Nicki Paviou, 10; and Cotsa Dmovska.​

 

[Growl]

SWAP AFTER THE TROPHY
Jack Dunn – Around the Packs (The Sun)​

Swapping of guernseys between Richmond and Geelong players after tomorrow’s Grand Final is “out”until AFTER VFL president Sir Kenneth Luke has presented the premiership cup to the winning captain.

The Tigers and the Cats have reacted to a VFL request by instructing players to retain guernseys until after the presentation.

This ultimatum goes back to the 1966 Grand Final.

Remember when Saints’ skipper Darrel Baldock was presented with the 1966 premiership cup by Sir Kenneth?

“Doc” was wearing a Collingwood guernsey! The VFL clamp-down on premature guernsey swapping is a sensible move.

If the captain of the premiership team is to receive the season’s most coveted trophy, there is not much sense — or sentimental value —in the presentation if he is wearing the guernsey of ANOTHER club.

* * *​

Carlton Football Club’s $200 fine by the VFL for kicking footballs on the MCG before the second semi-final against Richmond will not dent club finances.

One of the season’s best kept secrets was that the Carltonians – a group of businessmen which supports the Blues – had agreed to pay the fine before the first kick of the warm-up session last Saturday week.

Blues’ officials and the Carltonians knew of the penalty, but rated it as a “calculated risk”.

The warming –up did not help Carlton in the semi-final.

Now the $200 has gone, too. Carlton’s $200 goes into VFL coffers. This has more than doubled the revenue the VFL has gained from fines this season.

There have been 17 fines imposed for late starts by clubs, and the penalties have amounted to $178.50.

* * *​

Richmond half-back flanker Graham Burgin, who was one of the team’s star players against Carlton in the second semi-final, feels he might improve on that effort.

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Here, he shows dash as he takes the ball on the run during training last night in preparation for tomorrow’s Grand Final against Geelong at the MCG.

Burgin, 19, 6.1, 13.6, admits his semi-final display was probably the best he has given Richmond.

“But I hope I can improve on Saturday,” he said yesterday.

 

[Growl]

THE TIGERS HAVE IT
Coleman can’t see any weak spots
By JOHN COLEMAN as told to BRIAN GILL​

Richmond and Geelong have earned their shot at the VFL Grand Final . . . tomorrow’s big game on the MCG will be a head-on collision between the fastest, cleverest teams in the 1967 competition.

Nothing has happened in the finals series to alter my earlier opinion that Richmond will win, but don’t get me wrong—it’s no lay-down misere.

What a thriller it should be in these days of too much emphasis on defensive, close-checking play.

I’m not knocking those tactics – often they win games and often I’ve used them with Essendon.

But there’s no better crowd-pleaser, particularly in a feverish final, than two brilliant sides playing attacking football, rather than using safe, negative tactics.

All season Richmond have played with supreme confidence but here’s a warning – they must remember Geelong’s third quarter against Carlton last week.

Eight goals from a side IN FRONT at half-time would be a great third quarter effort. But when a team bangs them on after trailing by 26 points at the half-time mark it’s super football.

If the Richmond players didn’t get the message, I’ll guarantee their coach, Tom Hafey, did. He will use that Geelong third quarter as the big stick against any complacency in the Richmond rooms.

I think Richmond will win because they are the most complete side.

In the past two VFL premiership teams every player pulled his weight. This year’s Tiger pack has the same happy knack . . . they proved it against Carlton.

On the other hand Geelong still look a little wobbly in several positions. Last Saturday when Geelong were battling to get back into the game before half-time, I was surprised at the ineffectiveness of some of the Cats.

On the credit side for Geelong, their style functions best on the MCG and this will be the equaliser against Richmond’s home-ground advantage.

Both sides are outstanding in attack; both have match-winning full-forwards. But the Tigers’ half-forward department looks the more damaging.

Wade can offset this. On the score of experience alone, he must be regarded as a sharper spearhead than Richmond’s forward find of the year, Royce Hart. Richmond don’t have to rely so heavily on Hart. They have other reliable scoring avenues—Northey, Guinane and Barry Richardson.

Just the same, both full-backs are in for a nightmare day. Last week West lifted his game in the second half. This week he’ll find Jack-in-the-box Hart harder to handle than veterans Silvagni and Barassi, when they were resting in front after strenuous runs on the ball.

Hart also flies higher than any of the Carlton forwards.

West seemed a little tentative early last Saturday, but finished full of running – a couple of his clearing dashes took him as far as the wing. At the other end, Fred Swift has to give Doug Wade height and weight. Fiery Fred will be trying to unsettle Wade, but he’ll need to be a miser with the free kicks.

Richmond’s half-backs played well against Carlton – flankers Burgin and Strang are in top form – but Perry was below his best. This line will have a big bearing on the result.

If either side calls the tune across centre it will be Richmond because their tall wingers, Bourke and Clay, seldom are beaten. But Barrot will need to keep Closter in his sights when going walkabout.

This is the day when every player must be cherry ripe. If Marshall is not 100 per cent fit Geelong’s defence could be shot to pieces.

Geelong, with the old master Polly Farmer rising to the occasion, will match Richmond in the ruck.

Doug Wade needs eight goals for the century – and best of luck to him. It would be a wonderful achievement the way the game is played today. And if he kicks those eight goals the Cats could turn out to be top dogs.

 

[Growl]

Alf Brown (The Herald) has looked at the teams for the 1967 Grand Final and sees these stars as having the most influence on the game:

Two men stand between Richmond and a premiership — ruckman Polly Farmer and full-forward Doug Wade. Richmond will not beat either. The result of the game will depend on just how much the Tigers can lessen the efficiency of these two.

But more than two bogy-men confront Geelong. There is Barrot in the centre; Northey and Guinane on the half-forward line and Hart at full-forward.

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[Growl]

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THE TOUGH TIGER
By ALAN TRENGROVE (The Sun)

He lives, dreams and EATS football​

TOM HAFEY is the arch enemy of the Anti-football League. He would like to see League football played on 365 days of the year, and on 366 days in leap year.

He watches two Richmond teams on a Saturday, Port Melbourne or East Malvern on a Sunday, and any schoolboy match he accidentally comes across at any other time.

Television and radio don’t carry enough football programs, according to Hafey, who views every TV replay even if it means staying up to midnight, as he did last Monday for the VFA preliminary final.

He has read almost every publication ever written about the game and has travelled hundreds of miles to hear the expert and the not-so-expert expound upon it.

“He lives, sleeps, breathes and eats football,” says Mrs. Maureen Hafy, his wife. And she shares his interest.

“It would be a shame if I didn’t, “ she says, “because we wouldn’t have much in common at all.”

Football is Tom Hafey’s life and Richmond the centre of his universe.

The man who has steered or, rather, bulldozed Richmond to its first Grand Final for 24 years is a tough little character of 36, a self-confessed, but taciturn, fanatic, an iron man who at 6 a.m. every day runs three miles and swims in the bay at Mentone, a do-or-die scrapper who takes defeat so badly he has been known to lock himself incommunicado in the property steward’s room.

He neither drinks nor smokes, and when he declares emphatically “I never will” you know that you could bet your bottom dollar on the fact.

Watching him I command of a Richmond training session, his compact, abundantly muscled frame filling a sleeveless Tiger guernsey, is a memorable experience. He looks as hard and fit as any of the young fellows towering over him.

Hafey says Richmond secretary Graeme Richmond was the first footballer to train with weights. He started weight-lifting as a 17-year-old, and still heaves weights around.

And there is no doubt about his stamina when Richmond holds cross-country races, for Hafey inevitably finishes first.

He is also the first to arrive at the ground on training nights and, claims Neville Crowe, he never asks the players to do anything he’s not prepared to do himself.

Jack Edwards, president of Shepparton FC, which Hafey coached to three successive premierships, testifies to the man’s formidable toughness.

“In one match he stopped an elbow,” recalls Edwards. “His eyebrow was badly split and blood poured down his face.

“A trainer went out to him and said, ‘Tom, you’d better come off and get that stitched.’

“’Is my eye still there?’ asked Hafey.

“’Yes, your eye’s still there.’

“’Well, get the hell out of here,’ said Hafey.”

When he was appointed Richmond’s coach before the start of last season there were many supporters who, no doubt, felt that Tom Hafey was a stop-gap; a run-of-the-mill coach who would have good players at his disposal because of Richmond’s intensive recruiting, but who would need plenty of luck to survive for long in the most precarious role in big sport.

One of five children born to a Richmond printer and his wife, his first home was within a drop kick of Punt Road, and he played his first games in the Richmond back streets.

He was recruited to Richmond while playing in the centre for East Malvern in the Caulfield and Oakleigh League, converted to a back pocket player by Alby Pannam, and played 83 League games. [more like 67 games!]

“I was a battler at the best of times,” says Hafey.

But Jack Dyer describes him as a good, honest footballer, a great team man who was always driving his mates on.

As early in his career as 1955 Hafey was asking Richmond for the chance to gain experience by addressing junior clubs. As a schoolboy he had travelled from East Malvern to Collingwood just to watch how the great Jock McHale conducted training sessions, and later he was to do a public speaking course in order to prepare for coaching himself.

He was from the beginning a student of the game. He was also interested in helping other young chaps whether they were footballers or not. He bought a milkbar in Bridge Road, and it became a sort of youth club.

Hafey is reluctant to talk about his part in the activities, but apparently he persuaded a group of youths to take up basketball instead of loafing away their spare time. Three teams were formed – the Hafey Tigers.

He also encouraged local youths to invest their money instead of wasting it. He collected their money, put it as a deposit on land, and got a kick out of seeing kids, who had never had much of their own, possessing blocks of land.

All he will say is: “Richmond kids don’t get many breaks. As in other industrial suburbs, life is hard; and you come across kids Looking up to crims as heroes. You might hear a kid talk about someone being shot up the street and then proudly adding: ‘That was my dad.’ ”

Says Neville Crowe: “While he had that milkbar Tom was the king of Richmond.”

The invitation to coach Shepparton gave Hafey the chance to put all his ideas of fitness, technique and strategy into effect.

“He attracted young fellows to him by his honesty, integrity and fearlessness,” says Jack Edwards.

Then came the summons to Richmond. Hafey was nervous about the responsibility, but it would have been out of character for him to avoid the challenge.

He introduced a third training session to Richmond, and based his playing approach on two principles which, cannily, he doesn’t want to see revealed in print.

Experts like swimming coach Harry Gallagher, runners Ron Clarke and Herb Elliott, and Dr. Bert Willee of Melbourne University came to talk to the players and pre-season weekends were spent at Percy Cerutty’s Portsea camp. (Cerutty and Hafey are close friends and correspond weekly.)

Today, Hafey lives to a tight schedule — from that early morning run and swim, through to his work as a printer’s salesman and his coaching and match-planning. Even on a Sunday evening when you would think football might be forgotten for a spell, he often has a group of players and their girl friends at his Beaumaris home, talking football.

The culmination of all his straining and scheming will be reached, he believes, on the MCG this afternoon. “We will win well,” was his simple forecast yesterday.

He is, however, fully aware that no coach is infallible and that fortune is fickle.

“You can only do your absolute best,” says Tom Hafey, “but if you haven’t got the players you will probably get the sack.”

​

 

[Growl]

BATTLE OF THE FELINES;
RICHMOND TIGERS versus GEELONG CATS
The Football Record, September 23, 1967​

If the weather is fine and the arena firm, today’s Grand Final between Richmond and Geelong may prove to be the best Premiership match for many years.

It will be a case of skill versus skill because both sides prefer to play it that way. Beyond all shadow of a doubt, the Tigers and the Cats are the most skilful in the League.

If the Tigers win it will be their first victory in a Grand Final for 24 years, giving their club its sixth Premiership.

The Cats are facing a 36-year-old hoodoo. No team has won the Flag from third position since the current finals system was introduced in 1931. Geelong are seeking their 7th Premiership.

Richmond have won 16 of their 19 matches this season. They have beaten Geelong twice.

The first Richmond v. Geelong match was at the MCG in Round 7. After an even first half (half-time scores were level), Richmond “jumped” the Cats in the third term, scoring 8.3 to 1.2 and coasted to a comfortable win. [pictured: Patterson marks above Rosenow and Mitchell (Geel) Hart (R) is partly hidden]

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The Tigers “jumped” Geelong again in the second match, which was played at Kardinia Park. This time it was in the first quarter. Playing their last match in the first round, Richmond staggered Geelong by scoring 9.4 to 2.1 in the first term.

Geelong did well in fighting themselves back into the game, but their kicking for goal failed them in the crucial stages.

The full-forwards did well in both matches. Geelong’s Doug Wade kicked 6 goals in each match and Richmond’s Royce Hart bagged 4 in the first game and 6 in the second.

Richmond’s form in their second semi-final against Carlton was superlative. It was Premiership class.

Back pocket Mike Green withdrew from their line-up because of fibrositis, but this did not upset the Tigers in the least. They plugged the hole by switching Tony Jewell to the back pocket and bringing Barry Richardson from the Reserves bench to play on a half-forward flank.

Richmond’s opening was sensational. With young Hart burning in front of goals, they raced to an early lead and made Carlton look a very unsettled and unbalanced combination.

Geelong has scored 15 wins in 20 matches so far this season. Their two wins in the current Finals Series were both very impressive.

Geelong raced away from Collingwood in the last quarter of the First Semi-Final for a 30-point win. Last Saturday they recovered after a shaky beginning to toss Carlton in the Preliminary Final.

Carlton played much better than they did the previous week against Richmond. They had five goals on the board before the Cats scored their first.

Geelong defeated Carlton by 29 points. Richmond beat them by 40 points.

 

[Growl]

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[Growl]

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Richmond snatched the 1967 VFL flag from the Cats in a hectic last term in today’s Grand Final.​

It was the Tigers’ first premiership in 24 years.

Two points ahead at the last change, down again soon after and level a little later, the Tigers grabbed the lead to go on to a nine-point win.

A crowd of 109,396 — the biggest since reserved ticket sales was introduced — saw one of the best Grand Finals for years.

Globe men at the ground all agreed on that. The scores were level three times in a real ding-dong all-in last quarter.

There was a first quarter sensation when Geelong full-forward Doug Wade and full-back Roy West both had their numbers taken.

Today’s crowd brought the Finals aggregate attendance to 395,704 — a record.

Here’s what Globe writers had to say:–

MICK AYLETT: It was anyone’s game. Richmond rovers lifted their game from late in the third quarter and enabled them to carry the day.

IAN McDONALD: The Tigers tremendous will to win, spurred on by match winners Bill Barrot and Royce Hart, won the flag for them in a fantastic finish.

NEIL ROBERTS: Full marks to Richmond. They had to come back twice. The flag was a credit to their physical fitness.

BILL TWOMEY: Richmond won it when they hung on grimly in the third quarter, then went on with the job in the last term.

 

[Growl]

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Richmond are VFL premiers for 1967. They won the title in a desperate last quarter against Geelong at the MCG today before a crowd of 109,396 — a record since reserved seats were introduced.

The scores were level four times in the last quarter, as the two fastest and most brilliant teams in the League flashed the ball from end to end with amazing rapidity.

Richmond almost lost the game when they constantly broke down in front of goal. However, the great play of 19-year-old Royce Hart, who was switched to centre half-forward early in the game, got them out of it.

Rover Kevin Bartlett kicked the deciding goal after 28 minutes had been played. He was kissed and embraced by excited team mates who realised that his goal had given them an uncatchable lead.

Geelong were great in defeat and almost stole the game in the third quarter when they rattled on four quick goals as the term began, and had the Tigers floundering before their brilliant onslaught. However, the Tigers recovered to be two points up when the last quarter began.

Swift won the toss, and Richmond kicked to the Jolimont Station end goal, which appeared to be favored by the cross-wind. A free in the centre started Geelong off, but Patterson saved with a high mark.

Clay, winning the ball from Polinelli, sent Richmond into attack, but the move petered out 40 yards from the goal. Marshall was tackled heavily and was slow to regain his feet. However, he showed he was all right when he beat Barry Richardson to the ball and found Polinelli with a beautiful pass.

It was a blisteringly fast game, with the ball flashing from end to end, putting defenders under great pressure.

Closter, on his own in the centre, gave Andrews a chance but he was too slow. The ball remained in the goal area and when Hynes was freed he kicked the first score of the match — a behind — after five minutes’ play.

Richmond were dropping many marks. It was either Grand Final nerves, or the wind was upsetting their judgment.

Sharrock was wandering already. He marked from Newland on the opposite side of the ground to where he should have been playing, and punted the first goal. Sharrock, playing in front of Strang, marked but was petulantly flung to the ground. He was advanced 15 yds. for Ryan to snap a behind.

Farmer marked the kick-out, passed to Wade who despite close attention by two Richmond defenders, marked but his kick just missed.

Geelong were handling the ball much more cleanly and their system was good. Richmond were fumbling badly, and could not develop their game, and were fortunate they were only trailing 1.3 to nil.

Guinane punched over his head to Ronaldson who was freed on the boundary. His shot was atrocious, but Hart, dashing in front of West, marked it and kicked Richmond’s first goal in 11 minutes.

Geelong attacked from the bounce, and Sharrock who was far too elusive for Strang, found Wade with a punt pass, and he goaled. Geelong’s approach to goal was far more fluent than Richmond’s. Closter, winning in the centre, gave Wade another chance. When Wade claimed another mark, umpire Sheales called play on, and Wade snapped the ball out of bounds.

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Richmond’s defence was under constant pressure and Goggin’s quick snap as he fell, went out. Marshall marked the ball and was sent down by a fist. Players herded around angrily while he recovered. He landed the ball forward, and Goggin flew out of a pack with an amazing burst of speed and ran in for another Geelong goal.

Richmond could do nothing right. Barrot, usually a reliable kick, raced towards goal and kicked out of bounds. It appeared that everyone in the Richmond side was suffering from nerves. A Geelong defender was caught holding the ball and “Bull” Richardson goaled from 40 yards out.

Barrot had now come into the game strongly in the centre and twice put Richmond into attack with long kicks. Each time, a desperate Geelong defence sent the ball back. Brown was freed and goaled from 50 yards out. Richmond, although playing inferior football, were only three points down.

There was a scuffle near goal, and a goal umpire took the numbers of a Geelong defender and a Richmond forward.

Barrot, now winning in the centre, put the Geelong defence under pressure and when Bartlett ran in for a goal the Tigers, after a most hesitant start, hit the front. Umpire Sheales was slow with his whistle on several occasions – players began to scrag each other and this led to bad tempers.

Goggin to Sharrock looked dangerous for Richmond, but Swift marked in the goal square to turn them out.

Quarter time scores:

RICHMOND 4. 3. 27
GEELONG 3. 3. 21

First quarter goalkickers – Richmond: Hart, A. Richardson, Brown, Bartlett.
Geelong: Sharrock, Wade, Goggin.

Richmond switched Guinane to full-forward and brought Hart out to centre half-forward. Richmond attacked from the bounce, and “Bull" Richardson, from a free, hit the goal post high up.

Closter signalled his return as a vital force for Geelong with a free kick and then a mark. He landed his second kick well on the forward line, and Mitchell, who had been rucking well, took a strong mark but stunned Geelong supporters by kicking out of bounds.

From a throw-in, Sharrock had a quick snap and then held his head in despair as the ball sailed out. However, the ball remained near goal and Eales, flung to the ground by the neck, kicked an easy goal to cut Geelong’s deficit to one point.

Patterson to Hart, who handballed to Barrot, who ran in and just missed a goal, was good football. Patterson was doing well against Geelong’s galaxy of skilled ruckmen.

Guinane was outmarked by West who cleared. But the ball came back and Guinane punched it into the arms of little Billy Brown, who snapped a goal. Richmond rovers were scouting well. They kicked three of five goals.

Goggin snapped a behind. Farmer marked the kick-out, and put the ball 25 yards from goal, where Wade, who was off-target, kicked his second behind.

Twice Geelong charged forward and each time Swift marked strongly to send them back. A third time the ball went forward for Wade and Swift to battle it out. Wade was freed but kicked out. Richmond were fortunate he was off target.

Swift, who was under constant fire, was caught holding the ball, and up came Sharrock’s second goal, and the scores were level, 5.5 all.

Northey tried to weave his way between two Geelong players. They closed the gap, and he came down – hard. From the free, he put the ball forward where Guinane was awarded a doubtful mark and missed the easiest of shots.

Richmond hammered away at goal, but Guinane’s move to full-forward was not successful. Ainsworth and West both cleared and then Bartlett and “Bull” Richardson scored points for Richmond, to give them a slight lead. Barrot charged down the field brilliantly but Wesy outplayed Guinane and the chance was lost.

However, Barrot got the ball again, landed it forward and a low snap by Ronaldson went through. Barry Richardson was in the ruck and he lifted Richmond. Once he broke away from Farmer and his high shot was marked 10 yards out by Guinane – he goaled – and Richmond had a handy break of 15 points.

Wingman Bourke charged down the centre and handballed to Brown, whose shot just missed.

Geelong switched Marshall into the centre on Barrot, who had taken charge there; Closter went out to a wing, and Newland to a half-back flank.

Farmer, who was taking more marks than usual, sent the ball to Wade who marked brilliantly, 12 yards out, and goaled easily.

Richmond’s centre half-forward Hart was coming so far up field for his kicks that twice in three minutes he was battling on Geelong’s half-forward line.

Dean followed the resting Geelong rover to the centre and was awarded a free. Dean’s kick was marked by Hart, who goaled.

From the bounce, Richmond raced away again. The bounce of the ball tricked West and Guinane, and landed in the arms of Barry Richardson who charged in for the easiest of goals to put Richmond 21 points ahead.

Two goals in less than a minute must have been heart-breaking to Geelong. Since halfway through the first quarter, Richmond scored 8.9 to Geelong’s 3.3.

Northey tried to take the ball from Mitchell, and went down holding his face. It was an accident and Mitchell probably was unaware he had injured Northey.

A free to Closter started a Geelong attack. Sharrock’s shot was poor but the ever-alert Goggin pounced on the ball and goaled a second before the siren.

Half time scores:

RICHMOND 9. 10. 64
GEELONG 7. 6. 48

Second quarter goalkickers – Richmond: Brown, Ronaldson, Guinane, Hart, B. Richardson.
Geelong: Eales, Sharrock, Wade, Goggin.

Geelong switched Andrews into the ruck and Ryan to centre half-forward. In the first half Geelong broke down at centre half-forward.

A bad fumble by Perry allowed Goggin to grab the ball and race in for his third goal. It was a good start for Geelong in their chase after the Tigers. Geelong came again and Andrews, dashing out of the centre, had a long shot which just missed the pack in front and bounced through for a goal. Two goals in two minutes had Richmond really worried.

Ryan outmarked Perry and landed the ball forward and from a penalty free Wade kicked his third. Three goals in three minutes had wiped off Geelong’s deficit.

Geelong rover Goggin was in everything and he started another attack, but a free kick to Brown saved Richmond. It was all Geelong. Goggin to Sharrock to Wade, who drop-kicked his fourth goal, put the Cats eight points in front.

They kicked four goals straight without Richmond scoring. Worried Richmond officials must have had visions of Geelong’s superlative 8.1 third quarter against Carlton last week.

Richmond were badly rattled and when they did get the ball away, their forwards were behind their men and made it easy for Geelong to clear.

Richmond were desperate and threw Guinane into the ruck and rested a ruckman at full-forward.

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Richmond won a breather when Hart [pictured] kicked his third goal to cut Geelong’s lead to two points. There was a wild melee 60 yards out but the umpire seemed to miss the offenders.

Wade’s drop-kick towards goal was off-target. Ryan marked on an angle and missed. Mitchell to Hynes was excellent football, and when Hynes drop-kicked a goal, Richmond trailed by nine points.

Richmond had not recovered from Geelong’s devastating opening to the quarter, and there were always Geelong men on the loose.

Richmond, under pressure, had lost their early poise, and were weak in front of goal. It was a wonder they did not return Hart there.

Geelong, with a brilliant chain of passes, carried the ball the length of the ground to Sharrock, who kicked his third. Ryan’s ability to pull down big marks at centre half-forward transformed the Geelong attack.

Several times Richmond got the ball in front of goal only to see the faster West sweep it away. Then Patterson and Northey indulged in some handball which did not result in a score but kept the ball up forward. Eventually Brown marked and goaled to cut Geelong’s lead to eight points.

Geelong were winning their goals much more fluently than Richmond. Sharrock and Wade had developed into two dangerous players, with seven goals between them. Perry marked brilliantly and promptly handballed to Farmer. It was a ridiculous piece of play.

Newland, who had lifted his game tremendously since being switched to a half-back flank, took the mark of the day over a pack. Farmer went down and two trainers anxiously inspected his left leg and then began to rub it vigorously.

Bartlett just missed and then a mix-up by Geelong defenders let Barrot, still playing well in the centre, in for a goal, and Richmond were only one point behind. The wind had freshened and Geelong had last use of the favored end.

Great play by Barrot landed the ball forward and a behind was rushed to level the scores. Then wingman Clay snapped a point to give Richmond the narrowest of leads.

Richmond kept attacking. Northey scored a behind on the siren and the Tigers led by two points.

Three-quarter time scores:

RICHMOND 12. 15. 87
GEELONG 13. 7. 85

Third-quarter goalkickers – Richmond: Hart, Brown, Barrot..
Geelong: Wade (2), Goggin, Andrews, Hynes, Sharrock.

Richmond attacked from the bounce, and Guinane’s shot went across goal. Bartlett gathered in the ball and whipped it through to give Richmond a goal in the first minute.

Patterson kicked into Sharrock, the man on his mark, and allowed him to have a long shot which Dean saved. Then Closter marked and had a shot but once again Dean turned them out.

Richmond has several more chances but the failure of Guinane to play in front allowed Geelong to clear easily. Eventually the Richmond runner went out to Guinane, presumably to suggest that he get in front of West.

Goggin to Polinelli was beautiful football and Geelong were only turned five yards from goal by the desperate defence of Jewell. Polinelli was winning many kicks on the wing against Bourke, who appeared to be carrying a leg injury.

Brown’s long shot went through for a behind. Walker pushed Hart out to mark the kick-in, dashed upfield and gave the ball to Ryan whose 40-yard punt went through, and Geelong were only two points down, with ten minutes played.

The crowd of 109,396 – the biggest since the introduction of reserved tickets – roared in expectation of a close finish. Geelong kept hammering away; Ryan ran in to kick a behind and then Eales got one and the scores were level at 94 points.

From the kick-off, Geelong who seemed to be finishing better, carried the ball the length of the ground, and Sharrock goaled.

Barry Richardson sent the ball forward from the centre bounce, but Guinane who had been a poor player all day, fumbled and the chance was lost. Richmond’s persistency in keeping Guinane at full-forward was hard to understand.

A long shot by Eales went through for a behind, and Geelong led. Ryan grabbed the ball from a boundary throw-in, had a shot and Dean saved it on the line.

Barrot ran 50 yards downfield to give Richmond a chance, but once again their forwards were not good enough. However, a behind was rushed and again the scores were level.

​

Good play by Brown gave Ronaldson the opportunity to kick a remarkable goal from the boundary [pictured] — and again they were level.

Wade almost goaled with a quick snap from the boundary, but the point at least regained the lead for Geelong. Bartlett, suffering from cramp, gave Guinane a chance but his quick snap went out. The difference between the two sides was that Geelong were getting more for their visits forward.

When Bartlett was scragged 15 yards from goal umpire Sheales ruled that he was holding the ball. The decision could have gone either way. Hart marked over three Geelong players. He was brought down with a crash and thought he’d lost the mark. He fought on, along the ground on his hands and knees in a desperate effort to regain it. But the umpire had already awarded the mark.

Hart’s kicked was marked by Guinane who had a chance to atone for his poor game but he missed. Guinane’s behind levelled the scores for the fourth time for the quarter.

Hart brilliantly marked the kick-off and put Richmond into attack again, but a desperate Geelong defence cleared. With 25 minutes played, the scores were level at 102 points.

Ronaldson, 35 yards out, landed a goal over the hands of the outstretched pack in front, and with time-on beginning, Richmond led by six points.

Eales twisted and turned to beat three Richmond defenders and was bumped heavily as he kicked. Nineteenth man Graham was given a penalty 35 yd. out and missed the easiest of goals.

Northey, hotly pressed, raced to an open goal but was pulled just as he kicked, and the shot went out. However, from the throw-in, Bartlett grabbed the ball and goaled.

Richmond players embraced and kissed him. It was more like a scene from a soccer Cup final. With 28 minutes played, Richmond led by 11 points.

But Geelong fought it out to the end, and from a pack in front Ryan snapped a behind. With 30 minutes played, Richmond still led by 10 points in one of the most exciting of all Grand Finals.

Goggin had a shot but it was marked on the goal line by Swift. Seconds later the siren went, and Richmond were premiers.

Final scores:

RICHMOND 16. 18. 114
GEELONG 15. 15. 105

Final quarter goalkickers – Richmond: Bartlett (2), Ronaldson (2).
Geelong: Ryan, Sharrock.

Goalkickers for the match.—

RICHMOND: Ronaldson (3), Hart (3), Bartlett (3), Brown (3), Guinane, A. Richardson, B. Richardson, Barrot.

GEELONG: Sharrock (4), Wade (4), Goggin (3), Andrews, Hynes, Eales, Ryan.

BEST PLAYERS.— RICHMOND: Barrot, Hart, Dean, Swift, Brown, Patterson, Bartlett, M. Perry, Ronaldson. GEELONG: Goggin, Farmer, West, Sharrock, Polinelli, Ryan, Newland, Closter.

 

[Growl]

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[Growl]

SO I WAS WRONG . . .
BUT, OH, WHAT ART!
By LOU RICHARDS in collaboration with BARRIE BRETLAND​

MAYBE I did pick the wrong side for the flag, but at least I came up with one peerless prediction . . .

I was right on the crystal ball when I said the Richmond-Geelong clash would be good enough to stage at the Cultural Centre.

I’ve seen most of Sidney Nolan’s shows and my pal Picasso’s no mug with the camel hairs, either. But as an artistic exhibition the 1967 Grand Final made these daubers’ efforts look like chocolate box designs.

I’m not joking, if the whole business had been stage-managed the game could not have been more entertaining or a better spectacle.

The weather was perfect, surface conditions a groundsman’s dream and the house full sign was up.

And the players didn’t let down the record crowd one inch — this must rate with the great Grand Finals.

In a game in which two sides were as evenly matched as cultured pearls for 99 per cent of the playing time it’s not easy to pinpoint why the Tigers’ colours are on the ‘67 flag.

From my seat in the stand there were two major reasons — one big, one medium-size and both very important.

The big one was the battle fatigue suffered by Cats after last week’s grinding game. Hardest hit were Polly Farmer, “Major” Mitchell, Peter Walker and “Western” Marshall.

But by late in the game most of the lads in blue-and-white lacked the get-up-and-go to hold out their fitter and physically stronger rivals.

The medium-size reason was that 13½ stone of bustling brilliance, Billy Barrot. Strangely enough, Barrot was shaded in the middle by Wayne Closter in the opening stages.

But if he started like a glacier, he finished like an avalanche and completely buried the Cats’ hopes of taking the pennant. As a one-man show, Barrot’s performance made Sammy Davis look like a specialty act.

This game had so much to talk about that I couldn’t do it justice even if the Editor gave me today’s edition to myself.

But, to me, these were the highlights:

• Billy Goggin’s “Stawell Gift” breakaway for Geelong’s third goal.

• Royce Hart’s rocket-man mark, which stirred up the Tigers’ stove just when it looked like going out.

• Polly Farmer’s space-eating handpass down the outer wing for the Cat’s 13th major.

• Last-in ruckman John Ronaldson’s magnificent goal in the last term. He was hoping to land it in the square and banged it through with space to spare.

• Tony Polinelli’s dash and ability to spend more time on his own than Greta Garbo.

After this feast even a footy glutton like Tommy Hafey must have been happy to sink back in his chair and sigh “nuff”.

BEST.– Richmond: Barrot (best on ground), Hart, Patterson, Swift, Brown, Bartlett, B. Richardson, M. Perry.
Geelong: Polinelli, Farmer, Goggin, Sharrock, West, Newland, Closter, Ainsworth.

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Billy Barrot throws his weight into Geelong rover Billy Goggin
as Kevin Bartlett gets away with the ball during the Grand Final.​

 

[Growl]

Sweet triumph for the Tigers
By KEVIN HOGAN (The Sun)​

There couldn’t be a sweeter or more satisfying triumph for a team that has waited 23 years than to win the League premiership in such a magnificent Grand Final as Saturday’s deciding match.

Richmond should treasure the 1967 pennant above the five others won in the past 47 years—and possibly above any that may be won in the future.

Its value as the reward for intensive work and planning by the club’s present leaders is all the greater because it had to be won on the field against opponents of equal calibre.

There was equal honors for victors and vanquished in a contest that provided such a splendid spectacle of high class play for the great crowd of 109,396.

The teams were so evenly matched, and both sides played with such emphasis on creative movement rather than frustration, that it was inevitable that luck should play a part in the result.

But luck is just as much a part of football as it is of any sport worth playing.

The Tigers won on Saturday because they created their own luck, and took full advantage of the breaks that came their way.

Possibly one of the most vital kicks was a goal by young Richmond ruckman John Ronaldson, which levelled the scores for the second time in the see-saw last quarter. Ronaldson said later that he had only tried to put the ball in the goal square in the hope that Pat Guinane would mark it.

Soon after, Ronaldson got what may have been a lucky break when umpire Peter Sheales penalised Geelong captain Polly Farmer for what he considered a ruck infringement.

The big youngster put another long angle kick through for his third goal from his sixth kick in the game.

Geelong had a chance to answer that goal and level the scores again when 19th man Ricky Graham had an almost direct shot from a free kick paid down the field when Colin Eales was flattened after he had kicked.

Graham missed and the ball was swept up the field.

At a ball-up Ronaldson gave smart rover Kevin Bartlett a perfect hitout, and he popped through the goal that sealed the game.

In between these vital kicks Richmond captain Fred Swift made the most controversial save of the game by marking a shot by rover Bill Goggin at full stretch.

Swift jumped from just in front and landed with his feet behind the goal line, but the goal umpire apparently was satisfied that he had taken the ball before it crossed the line.

That line-ball decision could not have gone against the Cats if Goggin’s kick had been only a few inches higher.

It also is true that Geelong might have won if John Sharrock, Bill Ryan, Doug Wade and Eales (twice) had kicked goals instead of behinds before Graham’s vital shot went wide.

The real difference in the climax of a great game was that the Richmond men got four of six shots home. Only misses were a flying shot by little rover Bill Brown and an off-line kick by Pat Guinane from easy range.

Richmond’s third behind for the last quarter was rushed through.

Best.— RICHMOND: Barrot (best on ground), Hart, Patterson, Bartlett, Swift, Brown, Strang.
GEELONG: Goggin, Polinelli, Farmer, Sharrock, West, Andrews, Ainsworth.