RFC - FORTY YEARS AGO, 1967

[Growl]

Kangaroos shock win
Reserves Grand Final by DANNY BLAKE (Sporting Globe)​

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North caused the upset of the season when they played all over Richmond to win the Reserves premiership at the MCG.​

Full credit must go to the Kangaroos, who played on at the right end of the season and came back from a convincing defeat by the Tigers in the second semi.

The game was won by North with disciplined teamwork and clever team placing, which blanketed Richmond’s talented players.

FIRST QUARTER.– Neal Busse won the toss, and the Tigers kicked to the Richmond end.

From the opening bounce Richmond raced into attack and half-forward Don Davenport snapped a behind. Seconds later, rover Smythe atoned when he marked in a pocket and put a drop-punt through the centre.

Both sides were moving at top pace. Gargan and Scholes missed easy shots for North. The Kangaroos were doing plenty of attacking, but lacked purpose in front of goals.

A steadying mark by Doug Farrant gave North a goal and a one-point lead. They were now playing better than Richmond, as half-forward Gargan blind-turned past Busse to snap their second.

Gargan, a brilliant player for North, booted his second goal with a long kick from centre half-forward. The message quickly came from the bench to switch Cliff away from him.

Things were looking black for the Tigers, with many of their players going in tentatively for the ball. Rover Frank Dimattina set his team an example with a goal.

Neal to Howell to Davies to Goode was great football in reply for North, but Goode’s shot was off-line.

Fire crept into the game as Dimattina tangled with North’s Goode, and umpire Blew took the ball from a North player to give Dimattina the free.

At quarter-time NORTH 3. 3. 21 led RICHMOND 2. 3. 15

SECOND QUARTER.– North attacked, but Cliff drove them out with a long run down the centre. A torpedo-punt from a long way out by centre half-forward Ray Orchard, brought another behind to Richmond, who desperately needed goals.

After missing an easy one, Bowden made amends to put the Tigers three points in front. . . . A goal to Scholes from a snap in the middle of a pack livened up the game.

A magnificent mark to Richmond ruckman McKenzie, as he rose above the pack, and a goal again evened things up.

The Tigers’ back line looked pathetic when North attacked, and a bad mis-kick by Walsh gave Davies his first goal for North. Johnson drove the ball to Farrant, and another major made the difference 13 points.

Richmond’s forwards were also in trouble, as too many of their big men were easily brushed aside. It was left to the little men to show the way, as Davenport broke clear and snapped their fifth.

Rover Mick Evans put North back in control with a 60-yard drop-kick goal.


At half-time NORTH 7. 9. 51 led RICHMOND 5. 9. 39

THIRD QUARTER.– From the bounce Richmond attacked through Tully, and Davenport chipped in to goal. North quickly replied after Davies flew backwards into a pack to pull down an amazing mark. . .

Suddenly Dimattina sprang the Tigers into action when his clever play resulted in their seventh goal from Smythe. It was the same old story, however, as Scholes immediately snapped the equaliser. . .

Only good play by Davenport was keeping the Tigers in the fight, and he read the game well to snap his third goal. . . Howell, 25 yards out, and another goal put the Kangaroos in a commanding position. . . . a goal to Bond stirred the Tigers, and Walford kicked another in the time-on period to cut North’s lead to five points.

Nineteenth man Rex Hunt, who had just come on, livened up Richmond’s flagging big men and kept the ball in their scoring zone. . .

At THREE-quarter time NORTH 11. 11. 77 led RICHMOND 10. 13. 73

FINAL QUARTER.– The Tigers attacked desperately in an effort to pull the game out of the fire.

[Evans, Scholes, Gargan and Howell scored single goals for North, while Tigers could not manage a major]

North were coasting as the siren sounded to end the season.

The game ended with NORTH 15. 13. 103 beating RICHMOND 10. 19. 79

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Pictured: Michael Bowden gets his hands to the ball to take a good mark.​

 

[Growl]

Fred Swift bows out with a flag
By PERCY BEAMES (The Age)​

Richmond captain Fred Swift does not believe in half measures. The 29-year-old full-back came off the field on Saturday as Richmond’s 1967 premiership captain, and promptly announced his retirement from League football.

In his only season as Richmond captain, Swift now quits the League scene as the Tigers’ most successful leader over the past 24 years.

The win 16.18 to 15.15, ended a Richmond premiership drought that had dogged the club since 1943.

But while Richmond took the premiership, Geelong emerged from the Grand Final as a team equally deserving of this coveted football honor in the eyes of the 109,392 crowd.

Geelong matched Richmond in skill, clever teamwork and fighting spirit to produce such a top-class Grand Final that is was almost unfair that one team had to lose.

Only one thing marred the day—the reporting of two Geelong players. The umpires alone seemed to read unnecessary roughness into the incidents.

Geelong full-forward was reported by field umpire Peter Sheales for striking Graham Burgin, of Richmond, with a clenched fist.

Full-back Roy West has to face a charge laid by goal umpire B. Grant of striking Richmond forward Royce Hart.

West played his last League game on Saturday. The Geelong full-back conducts a hotel at Stawell, and he intends to play with the local club next season.

Richmond’s premiership win goes much deeper than efforts produced on the field by players on Saturday.

The first seeds of this premiership were sown in 1964, when the late Len Smith changed the pattern of Richmond’s teamwork.

Then came the big switch of headquarters to the MCG, and once they had settled in, the Tigers concentrated on securing big, fast recruits to suit the football needs of the big ground.

As Saturday’s win proved, the Tigers have succeeded well, and the two prime forces in topping off the team are coach Tom Hafey, a quietly spoken but fiercely determined man, and untiring secretary Graeme Richmond.

When something had to be done, they simply set out to get results in the shortest possible time, and if tough decisions had to be made they were tackled without any show of sentiment.

Neville Crowe lost the Richmond captaincy this season, then there was the disciplinary action in standing down Bill Barrot after he had criticised the club, and finally the bold decision to regroup the team late in the season.

Swift was a case in point. Late in the season the selectors decided the full-back position was not being filled to their satisfaction, so Mick Erwin was dumped and Swift, a half-forward flanker and ruck rover, took over.

Swift’s success against Carlton in the second semi-final, and again in holding crack Geelong forward Doug Wade to four goals on Saturday proved the wisdom of the move.

Swift showed coolness and steadiness all day, particularly when he marked a kick from Geelong rover Bill Goggin close to the line minutes before the siren.

Geelong was 10 points down at the time, and Swift covered a lot of distance with surprising speed to get to the ball and hold a mark. Had he failed to get there it would have been a goal.

Spurred on by that success, Geelong might have built up another frenzied effort to have carried out another last-minute attack.

Some Geelong players, and particularly captain Polly Farmer, were emphatic that Swift did not save the goal.

Farmer declared that Swift marked the ball after it had passed the goal line, but whether he did or not, no one is ever going to know.

The goal umpire said not, and as far as Richmond and Swift are concerned that is all that matters.

The great thing about the game was that it was climaxed by a last quarter of continuous, nerve-wracking excitement as both teams struggled desperately to get on top.

It began by Richmond leading by two points. Then four times the sides were level, and more than once each won and lost what looked like being deciding advantages.

IN the end it was not anything specific that decided that Richmond was to take the premiership.

The Tigers got the run of the ball at the right time, umpire Sheales saw fit to penalise Geelong in one or two decisions and a couple of telling kicks went through for goals.

When goals were hard to get, 6ft. 5in. John Ronaldson kicked two magnificent ones, yet Geelong’s last four scoring shots, not counting Goggin’s marked kick, produced only four points. It was as simple as that.

To that stage Ronaldson had done little all day, and it was ironic that his first goal, from about 50 yards out, almost from the boundary line, was meant to be a kick to position.

He tried to land the ball somewhere in the square to give one of the high flyers a chance to take a mark.

His second goal, seven minutes later, was from an angle just as acute.

Then rover Kevin Bartlett bounced out of a pack, blindly but perfectly, and with no one between him and the goals, popped the ball through virtually to sew up the game for the Tigers.

But the point that must not be overlooked is that Richmond had the determination to come back hard and grasp its chances.

When a side does this no one can rightly begrudge it its good fortune.

It is also well to remember that the Tigers were never behind at the end of any quarter of the match.

The big thing that counted all day for Richmond was that in mid-fielder Bill Barrot, it had a brilliant kick winner who never ceased to keep the Geelong defence under pressure.

Richmond also had an outstanding forward in Royce Hart, and once it settled down, was able to depend on a fairly formidable defence.

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Pictured: THE VICTOR AND THE VANQUISHED — Richmond captain Fred Swift holds the Premiership Cup high over his head while Geelong’s captain, “Polly” Farmer, hangs his head in disappointment. For Swift it was the realisation of his schoolboy dream — to lead Richmond to a Premiership win.​

 

[Growl]

SWIFT PLANS TO STEP DOWN
By KEVIN HOGAN (The Sun)​

RICHMOND CAPTAIN Fred Swift intends to end his League career after leading his team to the premiership on Saturday.

Swift, who will be 30 next year, seems sure to take a country coaching job. His name has been linked with Corowa, and several other country clubs are likely to approach him soon.
Only other Richmond player who may want to leave next year is clever half-forward John Northey.
Northey may decide that he wants to play with a country team near his farm in Derrinallum to escape the travelling he must do to remain in the League.
. . . Richmond president Mr. Ray Dunn, is considering stepping down from his position, but said last night that he had made no decision about when he might retire.
There is also a possibility that the energetic secretary, Mr. Graeme Richmond, might be lost to the Tigers in a year or two.
Mr. Dunn said last night that Mr. Richmond had made financial sacrifices by accepting the position of Secretary, and might want to rejoin his father in business.
“So far as I am concerned I will not do anything to hurt the club and will carry on until there is someone ready to take my place.
“If I step down as president I would like to remain chairman of the business men’s coterie, which helps the club so much,” Mr Dunn said.
The coterie has arranged a dinner next Saturday night to honor Mr Dunn and Mr Richmond and to thank them for their work for the club.
Presentations will be made to Mr Dunn and Mr Richmond.
There can be no doubt that Richmond’s march to this year’s premiership began when Mr Dunn, then vice-president and chairman of committees, played an important part in appointing Mr Richmond secretary during the 1962 season.
Mr Richmond was the driving force behind an intensive recruiting campaign, in which big, fast players were sought.
Next step in moulding a premiership team began when Len Smith, who died recently, became coach in 1964. Smith changed the team’s style of play, and insisted on greater mobility and readiness by every man to “play on” quickly.
Smith had to give up coaching because of illness in 1965, and present coach Tom Hafey took over at the start of last season after former champion forward Jack Titus had carried on the job for most of 1965.
Hafey followed Smith’s ideas about mobility, and also worked untiringly to ensure that all players reached and held a peak of physical fitness.

 

[Growl]

What’s in a mark?​

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What’s in a mark?

Well, Footy Week called this grab by Ken Newland, left, taken during the Grand Final, as “The Mark of The Year”.

He has his knee on Royce Hart’s shoulder. Hart is also up off the ground.

Right: The Sun called this screamer from the Grand Final, “The Mark of the Day”. The caption with it said: This fantastic leap by Richmond’s Royce Hart, who was playing at centre half-forward at the time, was undoubtedly the mark of the day.

He came from behind, “flew” over Geelong half-back Peter Walker, held the ball safely and crashed to the ground when his foot was caught behind Walker’s neck. Hart was not injured by the fall.

 

[Growl]

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HOLD THAT TIGER!​

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Big Bill Ryan seems to have a “thing”about Kevin Bartlett – just can’t leave him alone!​

 

[Growl]

CATS TANGLE WITH TIGERS​

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Report #1

Geelong full-forward Doug Wade bursts between Richmond defenders Roger Dean and Tony Jewell, up-ending Jewell in the League Grand Final. From this incident, Wade tangled with Richmond half-back Graham Burgin.
Lower left: Wade has the ball in his hand as Burgin shapes up to him
Lower right: Umpire Sheales turns Burgin around to get his number. Wade is on the left.
Pictures by Bruce Howard.​

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[Growl]

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Report #2​

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This first quarter scuffle resulted in Geelong full-back, Roy West, being reported by the goal umpire.
Here (Fig. #1) the umpire races into try to stop the scuffle between (from left) Bill Brown, West, Rosenow, Royce Hart.​

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(Fig. #2) The goal umpire Grant,reaches the scene and throws himself between West and Hart.​

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(Fig. #3) Having separated the two players, The goal umpire turns West around and takes his number. ​

 

[Growl]

RICHMOND BY NINE POINTS
By HARRY BEITZEL (Footy Week)​

RICHMOND won their first peace-time premiership since 1934 when they defeated Geelong before a crowd of 109,396 on the MCG.

Only nine points separated the two sides when the final siren sounded.

Already the match has been acclaimed one of the greatest exhibitions of football ever played. Richmond were unforgettable in winning; Geelong were magnificent in defeat.

Four times in the torrid last quarter the scores were level as players on both sides rose to undreamed of heights. Five times the lead changed.

But Richmond — the side that has played the best football this season — could not be stopped.

Not even the handball of Farmer, the pace of Goggin or the elusiveness of Sharrock, could stop Richmond from scoring the last two goals of the match which sealed the issue.

Centreman Bill Barrot is the toast of Richmond. Barrot — rough, tough and brilliant — was the man mainly responsible for his side’s win.

Whenever his side looked like faltering, Barrot was the man that corrected its step.

Geelong tried Closter and Marshall on him but neither could curb his brilliance. No player could have matched Barrot as he tore away from the centre and planted the ball right into the goal square.

Richmond’s second best player was 19-year-old Royce Hart who spent most of the game at centre half-forward.

Hart has matured as a footballer this season. On Saturday he came of age.

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Geelong captain and former Western Australian Graham Farmer [pictured] led his side inspiringly. His handball — which has revolutionised Victorian football — was at its best again.

His long footpassing had the crowd gasping with awe as he slammed the ball on to the chest of a team-mate 60 yards away.

But in the final minutes of the last quarter, Farmer — after such a gallant effort — had driven himself into the ground.

Sensation of the opening term was two reports, West and Wade were on the receiving end of the reports.

Richmond suffered more from grand final nerves and early in the game all players tried to bump opponents instead of winning the race to the ball.

Sharrock thrilled the crowd with his play. One raking pass hit Wade on the chest and he goaled.

Three minutes later, the arena arose as one to acclaim the brilliant Goggin who showed amazing speed to break from the pack and kick the Cats’ third goal.

In the second term Hart was at centre half-forward and Guinane had gone to full forward. Then 22 minutes into the quarter, Geelong were forced to shift Closter from the devastating Barrot. Marshall went into the pivot but could not curb the Tiger champion.

Just before the half-time siren, Bill Goggin raced clear and goaled, an important major as the Cats were now 16 points down.

Richmond had the better of the first half — mainly because they were more direct in their approach to goal. Geelong had their share of the play but were taking three kicks to do the same as Richmond were doing with one kick.

Geelong were late on to the field for the third quarter. Ryan was now at centre half-forward. Andrews was in a forward pocket and in the ruck and the Cats had two rovers running together.

Farmer was supreme and Sharrock was cutting loose on the half-forward line.

Guinane was off his game and was throwing his weight around and giving away frees.

Four minutes into the third and Geelong had hit the front. This is how it happened.

Sharrock tapped the ball to Goggin going past and one and half minutes into the quarter, Geelong had their first goal on the board for the second half.

Then Andrews, shepherded by Chris Mitchell, added the second. A penalty free to Wade and the Cats were on top.

Three minutes later and Wade received the second magnificent footpass from Sharrock and Geelong were on their way.

But just when they looked like taking the game and Richmond started to use too much vigor Barrot and Hart played their best football of the match.

These two steadied their side and by three-quarter time Richmond were two points in front.

Bartlett kicked the first goal of the final term to take his side to an eight point lead. Geelong were starting to fall into errors but their supporters’ hopes were raised when ruckman Ryan kicked a goal.

Then followed two points before half-forward flanker Sharrock kicked Geelong’s 15th and his third for the game.

But it was short-lived. Producing their best football of the match, the Tigers through Ronaldson swept to the front again.

Ronaldson kicked Richmond’s 14th and 15th goal to give his side the lead.

When rover Bartlett bounced back from a pack into an open goal and kicked Richmond’s 16th goal the game had been sealed.

BEST PLAYERS.– Richmond: Barrot, Hart, Swift, Patterson, Bartlett, Brown, B. Richardson, Perry, Dean.
Geelong: Goggin, Farmer, Polinelli, Sharrock, Newland, Ryan, Mitchell, West.

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[Growl]

Grand Final Snippets​

WHAT THEY SAID (The Age):

Better team lost — Pianto: Geelong coach Peter Pianto claims Geelong should be celebrating the 1967 premiership, not Richmond.
Pianto believes the better side lost Saturday’s Grand Final.
“Two of Richmond’s first three goals came from free kicks,” Pianto said. “If we had prevented these we would have gone further ahead.
Pianto also said there was some doubt about Fred Swift’s mark on the goal-line in the last quarter.
He added: “There can be no question whatsoever of Geelong’s ability to fight back after that game. Surely now we must lose the title of front runners and ‘weakies’.
“I thought we were going to hold them in the last quarter, but Richmond got the breaks at the vital time.”
Pianto squashed suggestions that he would not be available to coach the Cats next year. He said he would be an applicant for the position next year.

Geelong captain Graham Farmer said: “Our mistakes — free kicks, a couple of fumbles and miskicks — cost us the game.
“We looked like winning for most of the game, but we did not kick straight enough, Richmond was fortunate to get a goal in the final minutes.
“Richmond’s win was good for football. Premierships are made to go around,” Farmer added.

Richmond coach Tom Hafey said: “The biggest thing I have to do nowis to stop any over-confidence creeping into the club.
“I don’t want Richmond to go down like St. Kilda and Hawthorn after they won premierships. It is very important that we go right on with the job now,” Hafey said.
“I’d say both coaches died a thousand deaths out there today,” he said as he started to unwind from all the tension, the thrills and the win.
“Why did we win? Well, every player has his eyes set on the flag and nothing else was going to stand in the way. The players weren’t going to lose this.”
He added: “When the siren sounded I was close to tears. A premiership with Richmond—you just don’t know how it feels.”
Hafey, who played 65 games with the Tigers in the 1950s, won premierships with Shepparton before retuning to Richmond last year as coach. Hafey said he did not think the real thrill of victory had yet hit him.

Fred Swift (captain): “It’s the biggest thrill of my life. It really makes it worthwhile playing football after today’s win.
“It was close, and at times I thought we might not win. But every player pulled his weight and I have never felt so happy.
“I’ll never forget the thrill of running around the ground holding the premiership cup. It’s a thing that you dream about—but today it came true.”

* * *​

WHAT THEY SAID (The Sun): “This Grand Final victory came in one of those games in which each coach died a thousand deaths,” said Richmond coach Tom Hafey after Saturday’s victory.
“I felt every Richmond player wanted to win this flag, and was not going to concede defeat,” he added.
“There will not be any over-confidence at Richmond as there has been at other clubs which have won a flag and then slumped the next season.
“Both sides had this game won, and then lost it, but Richmond was aheadat the final siren.”

Peter Pianto (Geelong coach): “Both teams were even on the day. In fact, I think the better side lost. The scores were no indication that Richmond was the superior side.
“Richmond got the breaks when needed in the last quarter, especially in the last vital five minutes. Congratulations to Richmond – it worked hard for the premiership. But I am very proud of Geelong. The side could not have done any better and every player gave his utmost.”

Fred Swift (Richmond captain): “This premiership win was a great tribute to the way the Richmond committee, coaches and players have blended together to bring the club up from the doldrums.
“I must congratulate every Richmond player for the way the side fought back. Each knew this was a premier-ship we had to win. And congratulations to Geelong for making such a wonderful spectacle of the game.”

Polly Farmer (Geelong captain): “We let the game slip out of our fingers through a couple of careless mistakes, and Richmond finished just a little better than we did.
“We had plenty of opportunities to win, but wasted them through careless kicking.”

* * *​

“Cats” upset Richmond defender Tony Jewell long before the first bounce at the MCG.

Somebody painted the word “Cats” on his car last night. His car, a black 1963 Wolseley, was coverd in white paint.

It was parked outside his house in Hawthorn Road, Caulfield, overnight.

“I can’t understand why people carry their support for a team so far. It’s upsetting when mad football fans damage property,” Tony said.

His father, Mr. Lindsay Jewell, cleaned Tony’s car. Tony took his father’s car to the MCG.

* * *​

Tiger Rag goes to press​

WONTHAGGI.– Mirboo North’s weekly paper was printed on yellow newsprint yesterday.

Proprietor, Norm Martyn, 45, is a rabid Richmond fan. Mirboo North is also Richmond ruckman Mike Patterson’s home town.

The $17 extra to produce the eight-page tabloid (1050 copies did not worry Norm).

He laughed: “I won it in bets from Geelong supporters.” Norm sits by a 6ft. by 4ft. window, Mark Twain fashion, penning his news, and waving to townsfolk.

He was printing the last copies on a clanking 60-year-old hand-fed press when Mirboo North newsagent, Bob Burdekin – a St. Kilda barracker – returned what papers he had received and refused to sell them.

However, he was only kidding. Postmaster, Brian Waugh – another Tiger fan – declared “magnificent”.

Waugh, Mirboo North football secretary, has invited Patterson to come home – and bring team-mate Paddy Guinane – to present Mirboo North football club trophies.

* * *​

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* * *​

SAME OLD STORY: Richmond’s VFL premiership was their third win over Geelong this season. And each time Richmond kicked just about the same score.

In their first meeting, at the MCG, Richmond kicked 18.11.119 to Geelong’s 12.9.81.

In their second game, at Geelong, Richmond kicked 18.9.117 to Geelong 15.15.105.

In the Grand Final, Richmond kicked 16.18.114 to Geelong 15.15.105. The same score Geelong kicked in the last home-and-away game on August 26.

* * *​

Fitzroy won the Under-19 preliminary final on Saturday at the MCG. Fitzroy 11.15.81 defeated Footscray 7.16.58.

On their showing Fitzroy must be given an excellent chance of taking the flag when they play the Grand Final against Richmond at Sunshine next Saturday.

Footscray drew with Richmond in the second semi-final, then lost the replay narrowly last week.

* * *​

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With the cup at their feet at last, three very tired but very happy men rest in the Richmond dressing room after Saturday’s Grand Final. They are Pat Guinane, Royce Hart and Barry Richardson.​

* * *​

TIGER TOWN WAS QUIET: Richmond Town Hall was in darkness on Saturday night. Outside it, Richmond citizens waited for the premiership celebrations that never came.

Richmond supporters gathered at the town hall after the team won its first premiership for 24 years by nine points from Geelong before a capacity crowd of 109,396.

While the Tiger fans waited in vain at the hall The Richmond players, officials, wives and girl friends were at a St. Kilda restaurant celebrating the win.

However, supporters will have their opportunity to meet their heroes in an open day at the Richmond ground next Saturday.

Richmond’s mayor (Cr. Tom Peluso) said there would be a reception for the Richmond players this week. “Unfortunately the Town Hall was already booked for a wedding when the football club applied so it went elsewhere,” Cr. Peluso said.

Mr. Robert McGaw, who had lived his 81 years in Richmond, said after waiting for two hours outside the town hall: “The locals seem to have been forgotten in the big business of football today.

“When Richmond won in 1943 thousands were cheering in the streets here,” Mr. McGaw said.

* * *​

'BACKED AWAY' - GOALED: Richmond rover Kevin Bartlett "backed away" to get a goal during added time in the last quarter.

Bartlett had his back to the goals as he ran headlong into a pack of players close to the goal mouth.

It seemed certain he would be knocked over.

But then he took six steps backwards at a fairly brisk pace. He managed to turn around, get his foot to the ball - and kick Richmond's 16th goal.

This put the Tigers 10 points ahead.

* * *​

Umpiring his first grand final — he was given the job ahead of Jeff Crouch — Sheales’ highlight in a game full of highlights was the great mark by Richmond’s Royce Hart in the tense final quarter.

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“When Hart took that mark the roar from the crowd almost knocked me over,” Sheales said.

One of the first things Sheales noticed when he walked onto the ground before the start was the banner: “The man is white is always right” held aloft in the outer.

A cheer squad of League umpires was there to support whoever was given charge of the game.

* * *​

Don’t blame the Richmond and Geelong players for not swapping jumpers at the end of the match — they were following strict instructions from the VFL not to do so.

Two top level orders given to the Grand Final players were that the defeated team was not to leave the field until after the presentation of the premiership cup by Sir Kenneth Luke and that jumpers were not to be swapped.

The League clamped down on the traditional changing of jumpers by the grand final teams after last year when St. Kilda captain Darrel Baldock was pictured receiving the premiership cup wearing a Collingwood guernsey.

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[Growl]

Day in the life of a coach​

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Joy and relief (tears)​

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Group hug and chaired off​

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With Swift and cup, and a celebration dance with wife Maureen.​

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[Growl]

Tigers shine​

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RICHMOND players cleaned up just about everything in the football world and now two of the champion Tigers are going on with the job in the car field.

Half-back flankers Geoff Strang and Graham Burgin have opened a car washing business.

They operate the Tigerland Car Wash in Swan Street, Richmond, near Punt Road. The car wash is an annexe to a service station operated by Richmond committeeman Ron Carson.

The business is flourishing and they boast a fast wash with gleaming results.

* * *​

Sporting Globe: Richmond’s premiership half-back line of Graham Burgin, Mike Perry and Geoff Strang have gone into business OFF the field.

Centre half-back Perry has opened a photographic studio in North Melbourne.

Back flankers Burgin and Strang are in a car washing and polishing section of the service station run by club treasurer Ron Carson in Swan Street, Richmond.

Naturally the trio hopes to be back in business ON the field next year.

* * *​

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Jack Dyer took his Holden to that new car wash firm of Strang and Burgin in Swan Street.

After the Tigers went to work Jack marvelled at his gleaming new red car.

“I always thought it was grey,” he said. He’d been waiting for rain to do the job!

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[Growl]

Richmond chief says two reports trivial
By RON CARTER (The Age)​

Richmond’s premiership president Mr. Ray Dunn would not have made many friends among the many umpires and umpires’ board members at the MCG on Saturday.

Mr. Dunn claimed the two striking charges against two Geelong players, Roy West and Doug Wade, were extremely trivial.
Mr. Dunn made his comment in his after-the-match address to well over 100 Richmond and Geelong players and officials, top VFL administrators and a big band of umpiring men.
In making a special mention of the reports, Mr. Dunn said; “It’s a great pity two fine players like Wade and West should be reported for what we consider extremely trivial incidents.
“It was one of the fairest games I’ve seen. It’s a shame the season should end this way.”
No doubt, Mr. Dunn had Richmond follower Neville Crowe in mind when he made these comments. Crowe was reported in the second semi-final and, because of four weeks’ suspension, missed the Grand Final.

* * *​

Another comment in Mr. Dunn’s address was an interesting observation. He called this season “the year of the quiet coaches”.
In his tribute to the two grand Final coaches, Peter Pianto and Ton Hafey, Mr. Dunn said: “We have heard much about the arm-waving and roaring Allan Killigrew type of coach, but this is the year of the quiet coaches— the Piantos and Hafeys, without too much roaring and arm-waving.”
And he is right. There would not be two less conspicuous coaches in League football.

* * *​

Still on the after-the-match speeches.
Geelong president, Mr. Jack Jennings said: “. . . Our defeat was not a hard luck story . . . Richmond won it against great odds . . . It was one of the greatest premiership matches I’ve seen in my life . . .”

* * *​

Field umpire Peter Sheales may have saved one of the Grand Final players from serious injury.
When Sheales returned to the arena after half-time he found portion of a music stand stuck in the ground near the centre of the MCG.
It was firmly embedded in the grass. With it were about a dozen cards of music.
Both items had been left behind by a member of the band of the Royal Australian Navy from HMAS Cerberus, which entertained the crowd at half-time.
Sheales took the stand and the music sheets to an attendant at the gate where the band had left the arena.

* * *​

Giant Richmond follower Pat Guinane was as excited as anyone at the Tigers’ premiership success, but he made a straight-from-the-shoulder remark.
A strict teetotaller, Guinane said: “I’ll still not have a drink. I’ll be able to remember our Grand Final celebrations tonight, but a lot of people won’t.”
One thing Guinane will not want to remember . . . that shocking kick for goal after his great final-quarter mark. His point levelled the scores . . . a goal would have put the Tigers ahead.

* * *​

Suspended Richmond follower Neville Crowe rushed on to the field to hug and congratulate his team mates after their premiership win.
One of the first players Crowe embraced was John Ronaldson, the ruckman who got his Grand Final chance because of Crowe’s suspension.

​

Ronaldson got only six kicks for the match, not nearly as many as the Tigers’ best players like Barrot, Hart, Brown and Bartlett.
But how he made four of those kicks count!
His one kick in the first quarter—it was a miskick—went to Royce Hart, who goaled . . . his single kick in the second was a goal . . . and his two kicks in the last quarter went through for goals.
The outstretched fingertip mark by Ronaldson on the run near the boundary line in front of the MCC members’ stand in the last quarter was a great feat alone, but the long drop-kick goal which followed really brought the house down.
“I didn’t mean to kick a goal. It was not a deliberate shot, it just kept going,” Ronaldson said.

* * *​

The 300 people at North Melbourne’s Grand Final breakfast at the Southern Cross on Saturday morning heard a phantom broadcast of the final three minutes of Saturday’s match — a thrilling one point win to Richmond.
How close it was to the actual thing seven hours later.

 

[Growl]

WARM-UP DID THE TRICK
Barrot ‘sharp’ for big test
(The Age)​

No one took any notice when an athletic young man, dressed in his oldest clothes, started booting a ball around Mulgrave Street, Ashwood, last Saturday morning.

​

But a few hours later it was a little different.

For the Mulgrave Street footballer — who kicked a ball for 45 minutes with his 13 year-old brother, Wesley, was Richmond centreman, Bill Barrot.

Most of the 109,000 people at the MCG on Saturday agreed that Barrot was the best on the ground — and The Age football experts certainly did.

For all six of them voted Barrot “best on the ground”. It meant that he scored an overwhelming win in The Age Footballer of the Week Award and won $100.

It wasn’t just the warm-up outside Bill’s home in Mulgrave Street that helped him play such a magnificent game in the League Grand Final. The previous night also helped.

Bill, 23, doesn’t always sleep too well before a match, but he did last Friday night. He was asleep at 8 p.m. — and didn’t wake up until 8:30 next morning.

“It was the best night’s sleep I’ve had this season,” he said.

“I don’t always sleep so well though. And I think I get more worried and nervous before a practice game than before a home-and-away match.”

Bill made an early impression in football. He played for the Alamein State School team, and twice played in the Victorian schoolboys’ side.

And he was captain of the Jordanville Technical School team before being signed by Richmond when he was 16.

Richmond was not the only club after him. Collingwood and Hawthorn tried also.

And Bill’s own interests in League football were divided between Richmond and Melbourne, “I really barracked for both of them , , , I used to alternate,” he said.

“I think I barracked for Melbourne because of Ron Barassi. I always tried to model my play on him.”

Barrot, who is single, had no childhood ambition to play League football — but once asked to train with Richmond he quickly became one of the club’s hardest workers.

During the summer he trains with weights three nights a week, and runs twice a week.

He has only one superstition — he wears black laces in his boots — a colour he achieves easily by using black boot polish on them.

In private life Bill is a sales representative for a firm of manufacturers’ agents which sells children’s and ladies’ wear.

Apart from football, his main sporting interest is golf. He used to caddy at Riversdale, and recently bought a new set of clubs from the State’s top tournament player, Peter Mills.

Mills should know the requirements of a footballer-golfer, as he was an outstanding ruckman with Moorabbin in the VFA.

Barrot’s match on Saturday was worth more than $2 a minute. With The Age $100 added to what will come from the club, his 100 minutes of play worked out at more than $200.

What does he like most about football? It’s not the money.

“I think it’s meeting other people that I like best about the game,” he said.

Bill, who represented Victoria for the past three years thinks there is room for improvement in the game.

He thinks something should be done to keep the centre a little less crowded — but he doesn’t favor reducing the team size to 16.

He’s not the first Richmond player to win this year’s award. Previous winners were Michael Patterson and Graham Burgin.

​

Of the eight Sun writers: Barrot 23, Polinelli 14, Hart 6, Goggin 4, Farmer 1.

 

[Growl]

​

The result was ‘just’
(The Age)​

Congratulations to Richmond and Geelong on a superb game of football. The thrills and artistry of Saturday’s Grand Final will live in the memory a long time.

And, well done, Tigers. It was a magnificent climax to the team’s great season. You were the best side in the competition, by a good margin, and thoroughly deserved the premiership flag.

But you were not the better side on the MCG on Saturday. In my opinion, Geelong played superior football, and needed only a couple of breaks to have won.

This would have been most unfortunate and perhaps unjust, because I believe that if Richmond and Geelong were to play seven times Richmond would win five of them.

Richmond, much of its team skill having deserted it in the Grand Final, pulled the game out with raw courage, amazing stamina and an epic performance by centreman Bill Barrot.

I talked last week about Geelong’s coolness in the face of adversity, but this paled against Richmond’s steadfastness after Geelong’s demoralising burst at the beginning of the third quarter.

The thousands of Richmond supporters who sagged in dejection as the Geelong machine was winding up should remember that this is exactly what the players must have been tempted to do.

If their determination had wavered for an instant, they were gone. Actually a few did seem to falter for a short time.

But most fought even more fiercely and one, in particular, little Bill Brown, set an example in courage at this critical time which must have given the Tigers a great lift.

Having seen the Geelong blitz destroy both Collingwood and Carlton, it took a lot of Richmond faith to say it would not be destroyed.

But all the faith in the world would not have been enough if it had not been for the team’s amazing stamina.

I thought Geelong would be the team to kick on, because its precise use of the ball was less taxing on energy. Richmond’s blaze-away percentage football can be quite exhausting, and on Saturday its score was not equal to the effort expended.

But, in the end, although the Tigers were just plodding, they were plodding somewhat faster than Geelong.

In brief, here are some of my observations from the match:

• Richmond badly missed Neville Crowe in the ruck.

• What a great and polished player Polly Farmer is. It was danger for Richmond every time he touched the ball.

• Bill Barrot, with his explosive energy and his rain of long drop kicks, was a real match-winner. If Geelong had put a purely negative player on him in the second half it might have won.

• Royce Hart has everything, and is one of the best prospects I have ever seen. To play so brilliantly, so confidently and with such determination in his first Grand Final, stamps him a complete player. What great marks he took in the last quarter.

• Full-backs Fred Swift and Roy West never put a foot wrong. At the end, when he was getting tired, a moderate kick-out could have been pardoned, but Fred kicked them even further.

 

[Growl]

Norm Smith on the 1967 Grand Final​

While generally you don’t see many of the old-time spectacular crowd-pleasing games these days, occasionally there’s a beauty.

This year’s Grand Final was one to rank with the best. Many football followers claim the 1937 Grand Final was our best-ever game.

I would put the Richmond-Geelong clash right alongside it.

Which surely proves my point . You don’t get matches of this quality without good players . . . and both Grand Final sides had plenty of brilliant footballers.

Richmond's side this season compares favorably with the best, too. It has pace, cleverness, is a wonderful kicking side, has good rucks and centreline and a skilful diversified attack.

This sort of attack, in which you have a number of men capable of kicking goals, is essential to success in modern VFL football.

I believe this Richmond side is modelled on the top Melbourne sides of the 1950s. My brother Len admired Melbourne's style and took the long-kicking, play-on game to Punt Road when he went there.

The Tigers concentrated on recruiting big men with pace enough to fill flank positions, too.

Under Tommy Hafey's drive and dedication the plan has paid off.

I'm sure the greatness of this Richmond side will be shown more clearly over the next couple of years.

 

[Growl]

​

Top left: Tigers’ top flight ruckman Michael Patterson about to bring down one of his four marks during the Grand Final. He has the sit on a pack of players as Bill Barrot (#24) runs in to assist.

Top right: The three-tiered MCG northern stand and part of the 109,396 Grand Final record crowd are background to Geelong ruckmen Bill Ryan and Chris Mitchell as they sandwich Mike Patterson (Richmond). Geelong rover Bill Goggin (35) is in the foreground.

Bottom left: Mike Patterson and Chris Mitchell compete for a boundary throw-in.

Bottom right: Richmond ruckman Michael Patterson marks cleanly above Geelong full-forward Doug Wade. Richmond full-back Fred Swift is leaping behind.

​

 

[Six Pack]

Funny how times have changed. Back then 'four marks' seemed like a big deal! i bet they were all contested.

 

[Growl]

Tired Tiger but Kev’s best.​

​

What better blanket could you put over a tired little Tiger?

Richmond rover Kevin Bartlett fell asleep yesterday in Richmond’s club rooms after a salt bath and rub down.

So ruckman John Ronaldson dropped a Tiger skin over him.

Ronaldson and Bartlett kicked the goals that wrapped up the Grand Final for Richmond.​

[picture by Bob Buchanan]​

​

It looked as though Richmond rover Kevin Bartlett was “King of the Kids”.

The reason? He had just won the club’s best and fairest award — announced at a “meet-the-players” day at the Richmond ground — and young fans crowded around to ask their new champion for his autograph.

The award was decided on the votes (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) for each game by the Richmond selectors, Messrs. R. Dickinson, B. McCormack, Jack Titus.

Bartlett gained 104 points, 14 ahead of back pocket player Roger Dean, who was second last year.

They were followed by Bill Barrot (79), John Northey (75), Mike Patterson (67), Royce Hart (65) and *smile* Clay (65).

Patterson won the most improved player award and Hart the best first-year player trophy.

Francis Bourke won the most determined player trophy and Barry Richardson the award for the most promising player.

The special award from the Richmond Coterie went to Mike Patterson.

Other best and fairest player awards were: Reserves, Ross Warner; Under 19, Russell Tully; and Fourths, Trevor Wilson.

 

[Growl]

​

Mayor for the day — Richmond captain Fred Swift received that honor yesterday for leading the Tigers to their first premiership win in 23 years. He was invited to take over the “job” by the real mayor, Cr. Tom Peluso.

Above: He views Tiger country from the Richmond Town Hall tower.

Below: He sits in the mayoral chair.

​

Right, said Fred!

THEY HAD A BALL AT RICHMOND

RICHMOND’S premiership captain, Fred Swift, yesterday was proclaimed “Freeman of the City” by the Mayor of Richmond, Cr. Tom Peluso, in a Town Hall ceremony where pandemonium took the place of pomp.​

In a hectic, fun-filled hour of office, Freeman Fred, backed up by his honorary town clerk, Alan “Bull” Richardson, took the mayor at his word when Cr. Peluso announced:

“You, Fred Swift, are now free in this place!”

So Swift insisted on opening the mayoral cupboard to partake of the doings; pricing the mayoral chain; climbing the 147 steps to the tower and tolling the bell.

Cars in Bridge Road stopped and hooted their horns when Swift — in his fur-lined robe and ruffled lace collar — appeared on the ledge below the tower shouting: “Eat ‘em alive, Tigers!”

People below stopped and waved.

Then Swift interrupted a bowls match at the Richmond Union rinks below by shouting: “No ball!” and waving to the bowlers. “No one in Richmond will mind a bit of fun today,” said Swift.

“That’s my policy . . . if I’m allowed to have a policy . . .”

Swift was installed in office by Cr. Peluso and Town Clerk Mr. Charles Eyres, who read a short proclamation composed, he said, for such “important occasions as Richmond Grand Finals.”

The black-robed Richardson almost broke up the ceremony by pressing a buzzer normally used by the council’s Labor Caucus and bawling out the Tigers’ theme song.

Cr. Peluso, who was installed as Mayor only three weeks ago, said: “No other Mayor of Richmond has ever had such an exciting start to his year of office.

“The council and citizens are tremendously thrilled with the team’s success.”

Richmond was kept noisy but orderly throughout Saturday night. There were no wild celebrations after the 24-year wait for a premiership flag.

The Tigers celebrated with their wives and girlfriends at a private dinner-dance in a St Kilda Road restaurant (the location was kept a closely-guarded secret until after their win).

A hefty security-force man persuaded a few disappointed fans that the party was by invitation only.

 

[Growl]

Sore throat was not all
By SCOT PALMER​

The 7000 Richmond supporters who went back to Punt Road yesterday to pay a rowdy tribute to the VFL premiership-winning Tigers didn’t think the cost would be any greater than a hoarse throat.

They had waited 23 years for this celebration.

The last thing they expected was a crawl in another dreaded queue to be asked for a “donation” at the gate.

To many it was a blow that Supporters' Day was another “pay” day.

Those who felt the most hurt grumbled openly in the 100 yard queues at the gates.

But only a few people left the queues to return to their cars.

They paid their 40 cents for adults and 10 cents for children and were soon smiling.

Reports of the murmurings outside the ground must have reached Richmond officials, for, in his speech, club president Mr. Ray Dunn said: “I hear there have been some growls”.

Mr. Dunn assured them that “every penny” would go to the players’ holiday trip fund to Sydney, and the crowd yelled its approval.

But surely the Tigers could have given their supporters a “holiday”, too, by not asking them to “put-in” at the gate.