To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1969 premiership, richmondfc.com.au is transporting Yellow and Black barrackers back in time throughout 2019 to follow the Punt Road path to that fabulous flag triumph. Today, we take a look at Footy Week’s review of the Tigers’ first semi-final clash in the ’69 season against Geelong. The match took place at the MCG on Saturday, September 6, 1969, before a crowd of 101,233. Here’s Footy Week scribe Tom Lahiff’s report of Richmond’s mammoth 118-point win . . . 

“Richmond took Geelong to pieces in every department. They were given great drive from their ruck and centre line. They made front position all the time and their tackling was fierce.

I was bitterly disappointed about Geelong. They gave a very weak effort. The Cats showed no fight at all. I’m satisfied that no other side in the League would have accepted defeat like they did, not even the bottom ones.

Richmond looked terrific, but I’m sure that never in his wildest dreams did Tom Hafey expect every player in his side to fire like they did. Nor could he have expected the Cats to surrender so weakly.

With complete control in packs and in the air, I am sure the Tigers would have been satisfied to break even if Geelong did not offer any resistance.

The centre line was a result of sending boys on a man’s errand. The entire Richmond back line played in front.

Geelong didn’t have one player who wanted to be first to the ball. They were waiting for anything that was left over . . . but were left holding the bag.

On the forward line, Geelong were unable to catch the Tigers and had not a hope of putting any pressure on them. It was easier than a practice game. Every (Geelong) player was flatfooted and appeared to have boots of lead.

Peter Pianto tried everything bar run on the ground himself. He moved players from one end of the ground to the other, switched them on to the other wings, but all to no avail. He even had Doug Wade in the ruck. 

The Cats gave it away after the first 10 minutes and accepted defeat too easy. Apart from Billy Goggin, who gave all his small frame could offer, and Wade, who is always prepared to do something when things are bad, the remainder surrendered and let Pianto and their supporters down badly.

Mike Green marked everything that came near him and controlled all the knock outs. He was well assisted by Mike Bowden and John Ronaldson. They made John Newman, Ken Newland and Ian Hampshire look helpless. 

Bill Brown and Kevin Bartlett had a field day, with plenty of kicks and handpasses. Ian Nankervis was unsighted, but the courage and ability of Goggin was a treat to see.

Francis Bourke, Billy Barrot and Dick Clay was the centre line of the year. Pace, marking, long kicking and six goals between them – you name it, they did it. Better still, ask “Darkie” Harris, Peter Walker and Ken Gladman. They would have needed a seeing eye dog to find them.

I am sure the Richmond back line of Col Beard, Barry Richardson, Kevin Sheedy, Geoff Strang, Graham Burgin and Ian Owen, are all “daddies”.

The Geelong forwards made them all a present of a ball for Father’s Day and apart from Wade, not one player fired or even tried to stop the handpasses, short kicks or dashes of the Tigers.

Royce Hart was the driving force of the forward line. Geoff Rosenow did not chase enough and failed to put pressure on him.

John Northey put himself all over the forward line with quick dashes and clever thinking. Rick Graham was unable to find him.

Phil Stevens broke even with Roger Dean, but Eric Moore had too much pace for John Scarlett, who finished up in the ruck.

Geoff Ainsworth battled hard and it was strange to see him kick a goal when he was placed in the centre.

The Tigers look to have a great chance now, but it was hard to gauge the form, as I am sure Richmond are not as fast as they looked. They have never marked so well.”  

Match details

Richmond         8.3       14.7     20.11    25.17 (167)                                          
Geelong            2.1       2.4       3.6       7.7 (49)                                                

Goals – Richmond: Moore 6, Bourke 4, Bartlett 3, Brown 2, Green 2, Northey 2, Barrot, Bowden, Clay, Dean, Hunt, Ronaldson. 
Best – Richmond: Green, Barrot, Bourke, Hart, Clay, Moore, Bartlett, Dean, Sheedy, Strang, Beard, Brown. 

Richmond player statistics

Kevin Sheedy: 19 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks  

Barry Richardson (off): 4 kicks, 0 handballs, 2 marks 

Colin Beard: 11 kicks, 0 handballs, 5 marks 

Geoff Strang: 18 kicks, 3 handballs, 8 marks

Graham Burgin: 13 kicks, 1 handball, 4 marks 

Ian Owen: 7 kicks, 3 handballs, 0 marks 

Francis Bourke: 18 kicks, 1 handball, 4 marks

Bill Barrot: 33 kicks, 2 handballs, 15 marks 

Dick Clay: 25 kicks, 1 handball, 8 marks

Roger Dean: 19 kicks, 3 handballs, 6 marks

Royce Hart: 28 kicks, 4 handballs, 11 marks 

John Northey (off): 10 kicks, 2 handballs, 3 marks 

John Ronaldson: 8 kicks, 1 handball, 2 marks

Eric Moore: 12 kicks, 4 handballs, 8 marks 

Billy Brown: 13 kicks, 5 handballs, 1 mark

Mike Green: 13 kicks, 9 handballs, 17 marks 

Mike Bowden: 9 kicks, 7 handballs, 4 marks 

Kevin Bartlett: 23 kicks, 0 handballs, 4 marks 

Rex Hunt (19th man): 5 kicks, 1 handball, 2 marks

Graeme Bond (20th man): 4 kicks, 1 handball, 2 marks