RFC - FORTY YEARS AGO, 1967

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Hart, 19, 6.1, 13.4, will have his first League game against Essendon tomorrow.
...
“As long as we win tomorrow, I’ll be happy. After that we have a fairly easy draw and I reckon we can be on top after five matches,” he said.

The innocence of the times. A rookie wouldn't think of saying anything like that today.

Marvellous thread, Growl.

 

[Growl]

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Umpire: SHEALES
takings $20,655.45​

​

TIGERS A THREAT
By ALF BROWN (The Herald) ​

RICHMOND gave notice at the MCG today that they will be an even stronger Final Four contender this year than last year. They beat Essendon easily, and would have won by a far greater margin but for bad kicking for goal.
Richmond beat Essendon in all phases of the game. They were better forward, won in the ruck, were just as fast, and tackled much harder.
Essendon broke down badly forward, where Fordham, the top League goal-kicker last year, was below form. When Fraser was playing well, Essendon had a chance, but when he faded after half-time, Essendon lacked drive.
Richmond have found a star full-forward in 18-year-old Royce Hart [pictured below]. He took 10 marks, but his kicking let him down. However, it was a tremendously promising first performance.

​

When the sides lined up, Davis was centre half-back for Essendon. Soon after the game started, Dean went to the centre for Richmond and Barrot to centre half-forward.
The game was fast and scrambling. Too many players were on the ball, and pot shots by Richmond just missed. A great mark by Crowe gave Dimattina a chance to run spectacularly up the field and snap Richmond’s fourth behind.
New Essendon player Thompson held the ball and let Richmond in, and Hart kicked the first goal after 14 minutes.
Fordham (twice) and Clarke missed for Essendon. The strong crosswind was upsetting both sides. Clever handball by Northey allowed Barrot to goal and Richmond led by 15 points. Then Clay kicked a long one.
Essendon switched new player Ellis into the centre, and Fraser to a half-forward flank. Both coaches were moving players as though on a draughts-board.

Quarter-time scores:

RICHMOND 3.7-25
ESSENDON 0.3- 3

FIRST QUARTER GOALKICKERS:— Hart, Barrot, Clay.

Fraser was a fine player for Essendon, but many of his mates were out of touch. Twice Fraser marked to put Essendon into attack, but Richmond’s defence was too solid.
Williams and Clarke missed, before Shaw snapped Essendon’s first goal, after 39 minutes of play. Ronaldson was marking strongly for Richmond, but his kicking for goal was poor. However, his snap after a beautiful kick by Swift, atoned for earlier misses.
Ellis marked and kicked a fine goal. He was making a good debut. Ellis kicked his second after a poor holding the ball decision, and Essendon were only 11 points down. Noonan snapped one for Essendon — Mike Perry had kept him quiet — and for the first time Essendon looked like making a game of it.
Fordham’s shot on the siren missed. He had kicked 0 goals, 3 behinds from four shots.

Half-Time Scores:

RICHMOND 4.11-35
ESSENDON 4. 5-29

SECOND QUARTER GOALKICKERS:— Richmond: Ronaldson. Essendon: Ellis (2), Shaw, Noonan.

Crowe’s handball in the centre started Richmond off. Clay carried the ball on, and Hart snapped his second. It was Richmond’s best flash of football since the first quarter. Crowe, cruising around the centre, was winning kicks for Richmond.
Clay to Richardson, to lanky Ronaldson, who kicked straight for once, and Richmond had a handy lead once again. A great dash by wingman Egan gave Essendon a much needed goal. Fumbling by Davis let Swift in and Crowe marked in front of McKenzie for a goal. [pictured]

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Richardson’s pace and expert handball was cutting the Essendon defence to pieces, and the Dons were fortunate that Hart was off target. Crowe, on his knees, handballed to Northey for another Richmond goal. Essendon were 27 points down and playing badly.
It was all Richmond, and Barrot goaled on the run from 55 yd out . Essendon were flat, and had no player to lift them. Great defence by Pryor started an Essendon attack, and Clarke goaled. Essendon had Payne on Hart, who had been too good for Brown.

Three-quarter time scores:

RICHMOND 9.16-70
ESSENDON 6. 6-42

THIRD QUARTER GOALKICKERS:— Richmond: Hart, Ronaldson, Crowe, Northey, Barrot. Essendon: Egan, Clarke.

Young Hart continued to win the ball well and kicked badly. His kick gave him the unflattering figures of 2 goals 7 behinds, but it demonstrated his great potential. Clay showed him how to do it, and goaled from 65 yds out. He had kicked well all day.
Fordham missed an easy one for Essendon, but Noonan got one, seconds later. Richmond’s reply was a brilliant one — a long goal by Barrot. Essendon with one of their rare bursts of system, carried the ball the length of the ground by handball for a goal to Birt. But they wanted a lot more to challenge Richmond.
Hart pulled down his 10th mark and kicked his third goal. He is a great prospect, and with him Richmond will be a real Finals threat. Barrot was brilliant for Richmond and kept sending the ball forward. Essendon had stopped to a walk and were putting up weak opposition.
McKenzie ran and ran and ran, neglecting to bounce the ball, and goaled. Pryor was a great player for Essendon. But for him, Essendon would have lost by a far greater margin.

Final scores:

RICHMOND 15.20-110
ESSENDON 11. 9- 75

FINAL QUARTER GOALKICKERS:— Richmond: Clay, Barrot (3), Hart, Bartlett. Essendon: Noonan, Birt (2), McKenzie, Thompson.

GOALKICKERS FOR THE MATCH: Richmond: Barrot (5), Hart (3), Ronaldson (2), Clay (2), Crowe, Northey, Bartlett. Essendon: Birt (2), Noonan (2), Ellis (2), Clarke, Shaw, McKenzie, Egan, Thompson.

BEST PLAYERS: Richmond: Barrot, Richardson, Hart, Bartlett, Erwin, Clay, Crowe. Essendon: Pryor, McKenzie, Clarke, Egan, Davis, Fraser, Shaw.

REPLACED: Barlett (cramp) by Moore, Richardson (cramp) by Patterson, last quarter.

* * * * *​

BAD KICKING — GREAT WIN
By BARRIE BRETLAND​

If, as the purists claim, bad kicking is bad football, Richmond turned in a poor performance at the MCG on Saturday.

But just try telling that to the thousands of ecstatic Tiger fans who saw their side trounce last year’s No. 3 team Essendon, 15.20-110 to 11.9-75. As they would be justified in pointing out, even deplorable kicking — around the ground AND in front of goal — did nothing to even up the game as a contest.
The harsh truth for Dons’ fans was that their players looked lethargic alongside their enthusiastic rivals, were yards slower, were outmarked and brushed aside in the physical encounters. Two factors kept the teams on even terms in the first half — Richmond’s wild-horse style kicking and Ken Fraser.
Until half-time, the Dons’ skipper, operating out of the centre, virtually played the Tigers on his own and was easily the best player afield. Afterwards the Essendon “brains trust” unaccountably swung him into attack.
The result was doubly disastrous — the team lost its only regular source of drive, and Fraser’s dominant 23 became just another number on the back of a beaten Bomber.
Richmond, in direct contrast with the out-of-form Dons, got good service from most players. Outstanding were winger *smile* Clay and veteran ruckman Neville Crowe, who have seldom if ever played better, and Bill Barrot. [below: Crowe contests a throw-in with Don McKenzie; Dean and Richardson wait for the crumbs, with Gosper (No 6) hovering.]

​

Ironically, Barrot, together with promising new forward Royce Hart, tall follower John Ronaldson and Roger Dean, was among the chief offenders in the wild kicking orgy.
Moved to centre half-forward after five minutes in the middle, Barrot became a match-winner.

Best: RICHMOND: Barrot (best on ground), Crowe, Clay, Richardson, Hart, Dimattina, Ronaldson, Dean, Shinners.
ESSENDON: Pryor, Payne, McKenzie, Fraser, Birt, Gosper, Ellis.

 

[Growl]

Match Snippets​

WHAT THEY SAID: TOM HAFEY (Richmond coach) — It was a very satisfactory first-up result. I would say every Richmond player had a hand in the win.
JOHN COLEMAN (Essendon coach) — We were plain just not good enough. There’s nothing else to say about it.
FRED SWIFT (Richmond captain) — General teamwork, greater fitness and an advantage in physical strength were the winning factors.
KEN FRASER (Essendon captain) — Richmond was faster, more setermined and beat us in the air. It was a disappointing effort on our part.

Tigers in the chips: Richmond sold record numbers of senior and junior membership tickets at the MCG before their game against Essendon last Saturday.

Total senior tickets sold was 2446, compared with 1682 for the opening game last year; junior tickets were 798 (515 last year).

Ticket-sellers ran out of junior tickets and had to send back to the Richmond ground for more. Richmond hope to establish new membership ticket sales this year. So far they have sold 4557 adult tickets, compared with 5277 in 1947 when they last made the finals.

New players: Royce Hart — only inaccurate goal-shooting marred a brilliant debut in which he kicked 3-7. Has the rare gift of the born full-forward — the instinct of being in the right place at the right time.

Kevin Shinners — An outsize back pocket who looks short of pace, but has compensating judgement, great strength, safe marking and good kicking were features of an impressive debut.


"Five quarters” at the MCG: ADDED TIME for the Richmond–Essendon game at the MCG was more than 31 minutes — an extra quarter.

Much of this wasted time was caused by the umpire waiting for the ball to be returned to him from the site of the new grandstand.

It would save time if more balls were used. As soon as a goal is kicked at the old concrete stand end a new ball should be thrown back into play.

I do not think any footballs were lost on Saturday — they all seemed to come back safely but sometimes it took a long time.


Fordham had his chances: IT was a day of mixed fortunes for full-forwards at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Royce Hart playing his first game, kicked three goals and could have had seven; Ted Fordham, last year’s top goal-kicker, did not get one for Essendon. Hart, except that he did not kick straight, fulfilled all the promise of his practice games.

He took 10 marks — Terry Waters took 11 in last year’s Grand Final and was proclaimed a hero — and his ground play was excellent. Only Richmond supporters have seen the best of Hart. He is a spectacular high-mark, but he did not do any high-flying on Saturday. He was satisfied to demonstrate he ha a sure pair of hands.

Fordham was a disappointment to Essendon. He had the chance to score goals but his kicking was wretched. His inability to score gave Mick Erwin, Richmond’s former full-forward, a fine start at full-back.


Back to Earth:

​

It was all jubilation in the Richmond room after their defeat of Essendon until former coach Len Smith poured some ice water on the proceedings with:

“Enjoy the win now and then forget all about it on Tuesday night.”

 

[Growl]

FOOTY CLOSE UP
Every Monday in the Herald a football headline-maker
will tell his story on the Back Page

RICHMOND’S new full forward Royce Hart, 19, made a spectacular League debut against Essendon on Saturday. This is his own story:

3 goals and a sore head
By ROYCE HART, as told to John Craven.​

ALL the old heads of Richmond kept warning me to watch for the rough stuff. “This mob will get right into you from the first whistle and you’re going to get the full treatment, son. So, be ready for it,” they said.

But my first League game, my life’s ambition, came as a pleasant surprise.

“I didn’t get hammered as much as I expected, although there was one clash in the last quarter. I finished up with a sore head. Did I run into something? I’ll say I did . . . definitely.

“I wasn’t happy with my goal-kicking. I should have kicked seven or eight on my practice form. I don’t know what went wrong. I lost concentration a few times, probably because we were so far in front.

“I can’t work it out. I missed some easy shots. It was tricky shooting for goal where the old concrete stand was. My marking was not too hot, either. Some of the marks I took were easy, but I missed the difficult ones, after getting my hands on the ball.

“I was confident Richmond would beat Essendon, and I didn’t let myself think I would be a failure.

“I was a bit toey before the game. I watched some of the Reserves match, and then we had a talk about the Essendon team. Len Smith told me how to play Essendon full-back Greg Brown . . . Neville Crowe gave me a few words of advice and calmed me down. [below: Royce Hart gets a good luck shake from Richmond forward Paddy Guinane before Saturday’s match]

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“I settled down when we were handballing to each other and having short kicks in the dressing room. But I was still feeling jittery, wondering how I would go.

“I received thirty good luck telegrams from friends back in Tasmania, but I didn’t read them until after the game. When I ran onto the ground and the Tigers were greeted by the explosive roar of the crowd I felt like a million dollars.

“That was when I began to notice things. Last year I watched the Seniors playing and I thought I would never be with them. But there I was and I wanted the ball to come to me quickly. Once the game started, I forgot the crowd, and it was just another match.

“I had my first kick after five minutes for a point, and ten minutes later scored my first goal. I had proved I could get a kick in League football. That was the main thing.

“I had confidence in my own ability for two reasons, experience with Richmond Under 19s and Reserves and body-building exercises. Playing with the Under 19s and the Reserves gave me good experience and the body-building increased my weight by about 1½ stone.

“I can hardly wait until next Saturday, when I won’t be suffering
so much from stage-fright.”

 

[Growl]

MCG ADVANTAGE?​

Playing the finals on the MCG meant a three-goal advantage for Melbourne and helped them build a magnificent post-war record of premierships.

Now, that same advantage has been given to Richmond, who share the ground with Melbourne.

But after Saturday’s Richmond-Essendon game I think the advantage will be worth even more than three goals. Not for the whole year, of course, but while the south wind sweeps across the barren area where the concrete stand used to be.

It was most difficult to kick goals at that end on Saturday. Young Royce Hart, who is usually an accurate kick — I saw him kick eight in a practice match this year — kicked three goals from 10 shots.

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[above: Hart screws the ball back through the goals in his debut game]

Ted Fordham, top League goal-kicker last year, did not score one for Essendon and he had the chances to get a few. Of course, not all these misses were at the new stand end.

Hart soon will master the wind at this tricky end and he will get goals while visiting forwards are floundering.

The advantage of knowing the idiosyncrasies of the MCG also will help Melbourne, especially if they can find a regular full-forward.

Richmond have done that — Hart will be a regular for years.

 

[Growl]

OLD TIGER TOUCH​

​

Jack Dyer was in the Richmond room before the game against Essendon as players were loosening up with handball and kicking.

A football came at Jack’s head. He marked it one hand and punched the ball back quickly into play.

The one-handed mark was something that Jack could do on command and it impressed the young players and kept the “Captain Blood” image alive.

 

[Growl]

Sheedy chosen in two teams​

Prahran centreman Kevin Sheedy [pictured below] has been chosen to play with both Prahran and Richmond this week-end.

​

He is in Prahran’s team to play Waverley on Sunday, and the Richmond Reserves side to meet Footscray tomorrow. But Sheedy, on whom the VFA has put a $5,000 transfer fee, decided late last night to play with Prahran.

Prahran official Mr Jack Morgans last night said that Richmond had agreed not to play Sheedy without a clearance until the VFA’s special meeting next Friday night.

Mr Morgans said Richmond had agreed with Prahran that it wa not worth risking a five-year suspension for Sheedy when the VFA meeting was likely to allow Prahran’s clearance of Sheedy to stand.

Sheedy was cleared by Prahran to Richmond last week. Richmond secretary, Mr Graeme Richmond, was not available last night.

If Sheedy plays with Richmond tomorrow he will be the first player to take advantage of the VFL’s decision on Wednesday night to take VFA players without clearances.

 

[Growl]

Tigers drop Sheedy
By KEVIN HOGAN​

Richmond will replace Prahran centre player Kevin Sheedy in its Reserves team for today and will not consider him for selection again before next Saturday week.

But, in the meantime, the Tigers will ask Prahran to allow Sheedy to train at Richmond at least once a week.

Richmond secretary, Mr Graeme Richmond, said yesterday that if Sheedy had been required for Richmond’s Senior side today — and he would almost certainly have been chosen if Roger Dean had not been fit — he would have crossed without a clearance.

Now Richmond was content for Sheedy to continue playing with Prahran until the VFA had dealt with a move to rescind the demand for transfer fees of $3,000 upwards for VFA players going to League clubs.

It was this decision by the VFA which caused the VFL to retaliate by deciding to take VFA players without clearances.

 

[Growl]

​

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What The Coaches Said:

“It was disappointing, but you can’t take it away from Footscray,”
said Richmond coach Tom Hafey.
“They wanted the ball more than our players.
They were able to bottle us up on the non-scoring flank.
The only pleasing feature was the way the team fought it out.”

CHARLIE SUTTON (Footscray): “Our tenacity was too much for Richmond.
Full credit must go to our players.
They wanted the ball and they went in for it all day.”

 

[Growl]

BULLDOGS SHOWED TENACITY
By MIKE BINGHAM​

The Fearless, Ferocious Bulldogs, the banner said. And Richmond had good reason to believe it after being downed by eight points.

Footscray tore in from the opening and unsettled Richmond which was never able to develop system in its play. On skill and experience the Bulldogs were no match, but it had more then enough determination to win.

Captain Ted Whitten showed his side how in the first quarter.

He hurled himself into the packs fearlessly and later, as his men gained confidence, he inspired them with long punt kicks and fine play all over the ground. The Tigers finished with a nightmare on the scoreboard — 8.22 — including 1.12 in the third quarter.

But the bad kicking was a result of a fierce defence that harried and bumped every Richmond forward off his game. Even when things were close, John Jillard was there to steady his side and Ian Bryant, well supported by John Reilly at full-back, chopped off many attacks.

Richmond had trouble around the packs where George Bissett won plenty of kicks. And so strongly did Footscray’s young rucks play, that the Bulldogs could often afford to have big John *smile* bolstering the defence, where he was a very valuable player.

Mike Perry played strongly for Richmond at centre half-back and Kevin Shinners in the back pocket fought hard. Yet although Richmond was always close to Footscray it never really looked likely to win after half time.

Best. — FOOTSCRAY: Whitten (best on ground), Bissett, Jillard, Bryant, *smile*, Patterson, Chalmers, Cook.

RICHMOND: Shinners, Northey, Dimattina, A. Richardson, Bartlett, Crowe, Clay, M. Perry.

* * * * *​

TIGERS, YOU’VE MADE IT SO HARD!
By JACK DYER​

WHAT ON EARTH, happened at Footscray? Richmond played and kicked like teenage novices, and in so doing they could have thrown away a place in the finals.
That’s a nice start to election week. It’s sad but these things happen in football.
Richmond could take Footscray out on the MCG this week and murder them by ten goals or more. But that’s just talk.
Don’t give the Tigers away. I can see plenty of upsets this season, and they won’t all happen to Richmond.
I don’t want to dampen the spirits of those deflated Essendon supporters, but I’d say the Dons already have missed the bus to the finals. Five losses for the season are as many as any side can afford. Essendon have two on the board, and probably another one coming up this week. Then later in the season they have to face St Kilda, Collingwood and Geelong away from Windy Hill. No, I’m sorry but Essendon can’t make it.
I’d say that already the battle has developed into a five-team struggle. Collingwood and St Kilda are certainties. Carlton are looking like good things. So that leaves Geelong in the box seat to take fourth position from Richmond.
The other three challenges for the four were Essendon, South and North but their chances are well gone.
Geelong, like Richmond, face reality after four rounds. Then they meet Essendon at Essendon, Richmond on the MCG (that’s the all important game), Carlton at Carlton and St Kilda at St Kilda. They have to face Collingwood at Collingwood in the second round, so they’ve got a few danger games ahead.
But they have a nice drop on Richmond in the final game of the season when they play the Tigers at Geelong.
Richmond have a tough game at St Kilda, but are fortunate to meet Collingwood on the MCG in their only clash for the season. They play Carlton at Princes Park but they play well there.
I wouldn’t give the Tigers up after one defeat and I’m sticking to my original tip for the final four: Collingwood, St Kilda, Richmond and Carlton.

 

[Growl]

TEAMS FOR ANZAC DAY CHARITY MATCH​

I try not to comment while presenting what happened in footy forty years ago but I couldn’t let this go without making mention of what faced some footballers back then.

The VFL calendar for 1967 saw Round 2 played on April 22; there was a charity match scheduled for ANZAC Day (April 25) and Round 3 was played on the following Saturday, April 29.

Of the four Tigers chosen to take part in the charity game, Roger Dean was given BOG in Round #3 by the Sporting Globe, Crowe played a solid game also, and Barrot was excluded from that match by an injury suffered on the Thursday night training session. Newnham of Fitzroy was also named amongst his teams best for Round #3.

And, for those who might think that tinkering with the rules is a modern phenomenon, on ANZAC Day there were six “ball stewards” – each armed with a spare ball – placed around the boundary, the idea being to lessen the time at each boundary throw-in. Other innovations saw a pre-game warmup also trialed, as well as the players being individually introduced as they ran onto the field.

The Carnival Side, as it was known, were the highly successful team which had represented Victoria in the 1966 Hobart ANFC Carnival; “The Rest” was the team chosen to challenge them and was drawn from the 12 VFL clubs. As was usual with interstate contests or charity matches played while the VFL home and away season was in progress, the chosen teams often had a completely different look to the teams which finally took the field. It became a common past-time to predict who would succumb to a lingering injury or a mysterious 24-hour virus.

THE TEAMS​

CARNIVAL SIDE

B: Bryant (Foots), R. Murray (St K), Waters (Coll).

H-B: Marshall (Geel), Walker (Geel), Goold (Carl).

C: Gaudion (NM), Mann (Melb), Barrott (Rich).

H-F: Browne (Haw), John (SM), Magee (SM).

F: Crowe (Rich), Fraser (Ess), Newnham (Fitz).

FOLL: Nicholls (Carl), Brown (Fitz).

ROV: Birt (Ess).

RES: (19, 20) From: Beck (Haw), Anderson (Melb), Hill (Coll), Mynott (St K).

THE REST

B: Dean (Rich), Johnson (Melb), McKenzie (Ess).

H-B: Griffiths (St K), M. Perry (Rich), Steward (NM) or Kenneally (Melb).

C: Wilson (Haw), Meagher (Haw), Read (St K).

H-F: Papley (SM), McCarthy (NM), Quirk (Carl).

F: Thompson (Coll), Fordham (Ess), Richardson (Coll).

FOL: *smile* (Foots), Newman (Geel).

ROV: Goggin (Geel).

RES: (19, 20) From: Gallagher (Carl), McKenzie (Foots), Steward (NM) of Kenneally (Melb).

 

[Growl]

Club games next year

TINY CROWD SAW GAME
By KEVIN HOGAN​

League premiership matches are almost certain to be played on ANZAC Day next year, which will fall on a Thursday.

This decision is likely to follow yesterday’s attendance flop, when only 15,613 people went to the MCG to watch most of the VFL’s top players in a “friendly” encounter. The game was a fine exhibition of skilful football by the 1966 VFL Carnival team and The Rest, but it had no appeal for most League followers.

The crowd probably was lessened by the withdrawal of several star players from the teams because of injuries. League clubs striving for premiership points and players just as keen to help their teams do not like playing games in the middle of the week. This is because players have not had time to get over injuries suffered on Saturdays and because of the danger of getting new hurts and possibly missing subsequent games.

Some RSL officials would like League premiership games played on ANZAC Day without regard to the day of the week on which the holiday falls.

In Adelaide yesterday 35,566 people saw Sturt repeat last year’s grand final result by defeating Port Adelaide 14.12 to 10.13 in a premiership match.

 

[Growl]

PUZZLE — AND A PLEASER!
By SCOTT PALMER​

The League puzzled many people at yesterday’s ANZAC Day game by applying a time limit of 25 minutes a quarter and not allowing a proper assessment of its experiment with ball stewards.

But its two other ideas of presentation — the pre-game warm up and the introduction of each player — did add some sparkle to an otherwise meek and disappointing contest.

Without official time-on being kept each quarter the crowd could not tell whether the six ball stewards posted around the boundary were actually reducing delays in the game. They were well aware, however, that the quick delivery of the balls from the stewards to the boundary umpires did have a noticeable effect on the speed of the game, particularly ruck play.

Big men were often caught well upfield from the throw-in, missed out many times to make the distance from the line to where to where they could contest the ball and sometimes were trapped with their backs to the ball. Ruckmen said after the match that the new rule would create a “fitter and faster” player; probably would restrict ruckmen chasing the ball and create taller flank players who could fill-in at a knockout.

But the scheme obviously would do much to reduce mounting time-on at matches. In the third quarter, delays were unofficially totalled at 3 minutes 11 seconds — about 1½ minutes less than normal.

The American grid-iron procedure of warming up before a match — aimed at reducing injuries — had a favourable result when only one player, Max Papley, was forced to be replaced. . . .

The crowd enjoyed the ball-handling practice and PT circle work the teams did before leaving the ground to receive final instructions from their coaches.

The unrehearsed presentation of the players as they ran individually from the race did help fans recognise their clubmen in the strange colours — but the players were against the idea. Some said it was an embarrassment while others said it was a better and bigger thrill to run out as a team at the start of the game.

Under the banner “Clash” was so, so friendly, Kevin Hogan described the game as ‘football without bruises’.

He gave his best as:

VFL (The Champions): Birt, Bryant, Marshall, Barrot, Hill, Crowe.

The Rest: Dean (best on ground), Papley, Griffiths, Fordham, Gallagher, Johnson.

Oh, and the result was VFL Team 9.13–67 defeated by The Rest 18.13–121.

Gate $7313.90

BELOW: Roger Dean [No 3] playing for "The Rest" flies high to take a fingertip mark against John Newnham. John *smile* watches.

​

 

[Growl]

Not enough lungs​

RICHMOND captain Fred Swift, in his first season in that role, has found he lacks one essential for the job.

“I found out my lungs were not strong enough,” Swift said. He did not mean he was running out of wind during a match.

“I have found you must be a lot more vocal than when you are just a player. You have to keep shouting encouragement to the players,” Swift said.

Swift, who has been on a half-forward flank, said he would like to be playing better.

“It is not the worry of the captaincy. I would not swap that for anything. But I have not been doing as much as I would have liked on the field,” he said.

 

[Growl]

Sheedy named in team​

RICHMOND picked Prahran centre player Kevin Sheedy without waiting for the result of the special VFA meeting tonight to consider rescinding the demand for transfer fees.

Sheedy has told the Tigers that he will play whether or not it means disqualification by the VFA for five years. Last week Sheedy was named in the Richmond Reserves team, but he decided to play with Prahran.

Richmond secretary, Mr Graeme Richmond, said last night: “There was no point in fiddling about any longer.

“We think that Sheedy is a good player, and the only way to find out if we are right is to play him in the senior team.

“Prahran already has cleared Sheedy to Richmond. Whether that clearance can be presented to the VFL and Sheedy transferred in the normal way depends on the decision of tonight’s VFA meeting.

“If the VFA’s transfer fee demands still stand the clearance can’t be used because it would bring us into conflict with the Coulter Law,” Mr Richmond said.

Sheedy’s inclusion was not the only shock in the Richmond team chosen to play Fitzroy at the MCG. Big vice-captain Pat Guinane was rushed into the side, although there were doubts until last night about whether he had recovered from a knee strain.

Even more important was the dropping of John Perry, Frank Dimattina and Geoff Strang. Perry’s place went to Bill Barrot, who was moved to a wing to make room for Sheedy.

Dimattina was displaced by Don Davenport, and Strang had to give way to Tony Jewell, who had just completed suspension from last year.

The Richmond selectors have been disturbed by the team’s inability to play well under pressure, particularly last Saturday at Footscray. Their reaction has been to pick players they consider are bigger, stronger — and more important, tougher.

BELOW: Tony Jewell, the plumber with tar marks on his hands, is ready for his first match this season with Richmond. Jewell, a half-back flanker and ruck-rover, who was suspended for four matches last season, is seen here training yesterday.

​

 

[Growl]

Guinane back in action​

RICHMOND vice-captain and centre half-forward Pat Guinane will play his first game this season against Fitzroy tomorrow.

He has recovered from the strained knee ligaments which he suffered in a pre-season practice match. Guinane twisted and turned in a solid test last night and was passed fit after an examination by the club doctor.

Fears that centreman Bill Barrot had injured himself in a collision with ruckman Alan Richardson were dispelled after treatment.

Barrot was forced to leave the ground but made a quick recovery and was named in the team. [BELOW: Barrot kicking in recent Vic Carnival Team v The Rest match.]

​

 

[Growl]

BARROT DROPS OUT
By KEVIN HOGAN​

RICHMOND centre line player Bill Barrot dropped out of the team to play Fitzroy at the MCG today.

Barrot had his shin bruised in a collision with burly ruckman Alan Richardson at training on Thursday and the injury worsened yesterday.

Barrot had been chosen to play on a wing today because of the inclusion of Prahran star Kevin Sheedy.

The selectors decided to recall John Perry to the team to take Barrot’s wing place.

Perry’s place as a reserve will be taken by Eric Moore.

Sheedy yesterday attended the VFL headquarters, Harrison House, and was given a permit to play with Richmond.

PICTURED: Kevin Sheedy, 19, of Prahran, enters Harrison House yesterday with Richmond secretary, Mr Graeme Richmond, to ask for a League permit to play today with the Tigers. Sheedy has said he’ll play today whether or not it means disqualification by the VFA.

​

 

[Growl]

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RICHMOND (Goals, behinds, misses): Bartlett 3.1.1; Hart 3.1.0; Davenport 3..0.0; Guinane 2.2.1; Northey 0.2.0; Green 0.1.0; Ronaldson 0.1.1; Perry 0.1.0; Swift 0.1.0.
Rushed: 2 behinds; marks 60; frees 37.

FITZROY: Brown 2.0.0; Andrews 1.3.0; Ruscuklic 1.2.0; Wall 1.1.0; Zunnenberg 1.0.0; Lazarus 1.0.0; Ebbels 0.4.0; Newnham 0.1.0
Rushed: 0; marks 36; frees 37

Total Out of Bounds: 67

 

[Growl]

Round 3 Richmond v Fitzroy Match Snippets​

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Sporting Globe votes:​

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The Sun votes: R. Dean (Rich) 3
J. Newnham (Fitz)2
M. Erwin (Rich) 1

Richmond’s handball will make ‘em or break ‘em — the next few [matches?] will tell the story.

*​

Richmond looked stunned in the first 10 minutes — it appeared as though Fitzroy were going to go on with it and leave the Tigers standing. But halfway through the quarter, skipper Fred Swift, Roger Dean and Paddy Guinane sprang into action and steered the Tigers in the right direction.

*​

When Paddy Guinane lines up in front of goal, the Tigers always look good.
Against Fitzroy, Guinane only kicked two goals but he was the player that made all the difference as he gave confidence to other Tigers near him. [Sporting Globe]

*​

Paddy Guinane was lucky to get his two goals on Saturday. Both were in the first quarter from doubtful umpiring decisions.
The first came after he was awarded a chest mark which he had spilled; the second from a free kick in front. [The Sun]

*​

Early, Tiger forward Royce Hart, would have thought he was in for a bleak day against the Lions. For two quarters he hardly touched the ball, but when shifted to the spearhead in the third quarter he booted two magnificent goals that spelt doom for the opposition.
Just goes to show one never knows what’s around the corner in football.

*​

Richmond’s star follower Neville Crowe gave Fitzroy’s young ruckmen a lesson. During the drizzly first half Crowe excelled in hitting out DOUBLE-HANDED! [The Sun]

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Just before the siren for three-quarter time, Neville Crowe became a ferocious tiger and flattened Lion Alex Ruscuklic with a solid bump.
The big Tiger ruckman left the field for something or other and came back a few minutes later to a barrage of hooting and booing.
Nev looked startled because he’s always been regarded as a gentle giant – apparently Tigers, like leopards, can change their spots – for the Lion was a sick and sorry player.

*​

Richmond centre half-back Graham Burgin and Fitzroy centre half-forward Mike Andrews turned on a grand battle to highlight the day.
Honours were fairly even and it was a credit to the game of football that these two players went for the ball on all occasions.

*​

In the near future Tiger wingman *smile* Clay is sure to turn on a classic display. His form this season has been good.
*smile* has pace, tons of it; and once he learns to control his dashes to the ball the former Kyabram star will be nominated for top rating.

*​

CLAY AN IMPROVER: Richmond’s glamour recruit *smile* Clay showed improved form out on the half-forward flank where he appreciated the chance to use his speed. [The Sun]

*​

Fred Swift filled the job of captain to perfection for Richmond against Fitzroy.
Whether in attack or defence he was always a thought ahead of the opposition and inspired his team with strong play.

*​

 

[Growl]

Ron Clarke says

Royce could turn the tide for Tigers​

There are plenty of good reasons why Richmond’s full-forward Royce Hart should already be regarded as the glamour recruit of the 1967 League season.

League history has shown more than once that a champion goalkicker can win a premiership for his team.

The most dramatic demonstration of this came in 1949.

Before John Coleman transferred from Hastings, Essendon had lost two successive premierships — in 1947 by a point and then, in 1948, to Melbourne in a replay after the only drawn Grand Final.

The scores showed a sad story of frustrating inaccuracy . . .

1947 — 11.19-85 to 13.8-86

1948 — 7.27-69 to 10.9-69

But with Coleman at full-forward, Essendon was transformed. It won the 1949 Grand Final, scoring 18.17-125 to Carlton’s 6.18-52, and lost only one game in sweeping to the 1950 flag.

I’m not saying it was all due to Coleman. But there was no doubt he helped to lift the side’s confidence by showing players that their best efforts would probably be converted into a winning score instead of being wasted.

The greatest recruit of all time was also a champion forward, though most of you may never have heard of his name.

In 1891, Albert Thurgood was captain of Brighton Grammar, a champion school athlete and a consistent kicker of the ball over 80 yards.

A year later he became the first player to kick more than 50 goals in a season, when he booted home 56 for his team [Essendon] from centre half-forward.

The following year, his tally was 63 goals, and in successive matches he kicked 12 out of 14 goals against Richmond and nine out of 10 goals against North Melbourne.

Thurgood’s fame spread so widely that he was invited to take part in kicking exhibitions all over Australia.

In Tasmania, his best effort was 96 yd 2 ft; in South Australia, 95 yd; and in Fremantle, WA, 99yd.

None of these kicks was accepted as a record because the VFL was not then formed, and it was claimed at the time that he had wind assistance.

His most amazing kick was on June 22, 1899, when officials invited reporters to the East Melbourne ground specifically to measure “Albert the Great’s” kicking.

One place-kick soared a mammoth 107 yd 2 ft 1in. But again there was a following wind.

Thurgood’s greatest year was possibly 1901, when in the final against Fitzroy he kicked five of his team’s six goals — three of them from 80 yards out — while alternating between centre half-forward, centre half-back and the ruck.

In the Grand Final the following week against Collingwood, he kicked against the breeze a place-kick that was measured subsequently at 93 yards.

This great footballer again topped the goal kicking list in 1900 and 1903 while playing in both defence and the ruck. As well as his favourite centre half-forward position.

Bruce Andrew, ANFC secretary, is inclined to be sceptical about some of Thurgood’s kicking feats. “How could they measure a kick that has taken place during a game?” he asks.

Thurgood, however, was the only player who dug holes to place-kick the ball around the centre of the ground, so the mark could have been located.

Perhaps the ball tended to float more in those days when there was a wind behind it. But I am sure that the little-known Thurgood must rate as the game’s outstanding kicker — and a perfect model for Hart and all other young hopefuls of today.

Officials at Windy Hill would love history to repeat itself and another young sharp-shooter walk into the Essendon rooms and ask for a game “because most of my schoolmates played with the ‘Same-Olds’.”

 Ron Clarke says was written in collaboration with staff writer, Alan Trengrove.