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 report of Richmond’s final home-and-away match in the ’69 season against Footscray. The clash took place at the MCG on Saturday, August 30, 1969, before a crowd of 33,591. Here’s how Footy Week scribe Mike Donnelly reviewed Richmond’s thumping 90-point win under the heading: “Tigers thrash the Bulldogs” . . .
“Richmond have reached their top at the right time. It will take a good side to beat them in the finals if they reproduce Saturday’s form.
Quite frankly, I haven’t seen the Tigers play better since they won the flag in 1967.
Weaknesses? Yes, I believe I saw some against Footscray, particularly in the ruck. But it would be unfair to say something that would discredit their wonderful performance.
FINALS Visit the 2019 Finals Hub for all the details on Richmond's qualifying final against Brisbane
Footscray hit the Tigers with every piece of artillery they had in the first 10 minutes of the game. It was a wonderful opening.
Richmond played as desperately as a team in danger of missing out on the Final Four. And they were. But although they had nothing to gain by winning, Footscray were just as determined to win as their opponents.
Mainly through the drive from long-kicking Billy Barrot in the centre and Francis Bourke and Dick Clay on the wings, Richmond outscored Footscray by 4.3 to 1.3 in a hard-fought first quarter.
The Bulldogs had nearly as much play as Richmond, but their attack was blanketed by brilliant Tiger defence.
Richmond wrecked Footscray in the second quarter in which they scored 7.5 to 1.1 and sealed the game in the third quarter by kicking another seven goals.
The Tigers eased up, but never lost control. Royce Hart, whowas much too good for Footscray’s centre half-back Gary Merrington, left the field in the last quarter, but there didn’t appear to be anything very much wrong with him.
I thought Richmond were beaten in the ruck, but there’s no denying that their rovers Kevin Bartlett and Billy Brown continually whisked the ball away from the packs.
Footscray did not have many conspicuous players. Gary Dempsey received my vote for their best. He battled hard in the ruck and marked well when resting around the goals. Dempsey should be a good player next season.
David Thorpe, playing as second rover, shared a lot of the play and took some nice marks.
Stuart Magee was beaten by Barrot in the centre, but still won kicks. He went better when swung to a back pocket.
Wingman Ray Haynes was another Footscray player beaten on the day, but not disgraced.
Ted Whitten played a spoiling game at full-back and did the job satisfactorily. Ken Greenwood and Bernie Quinlan battled hard and George Bisset had quite a few kicks, but couldn’t be classed as having a good day.”
Match details
Richmond 4.3 11.8 18.13 23.16 (154)
Footscray 1.3 2.4 6.7 9.10 (64)
Goals – Richmond: Brown 5, Northey 4, Barrot 3, Bartlett 2, Bowden 2, Bourke, Clay, Green, Hart, Moore, Perry, Ronaldson.
Best – Richmond: Sheedy, Barrot, Clay, Hart, Bartlett, Dean, Strang, Bourke.
SUPERSTORE Gear up for Finals with the Tigerland Superstore and show your support this September
Richmond player statistics
Kevin Sheedy: 24 kicks, 4 handballs, 5 marks
Barry Richardson: 6 kicks, 0 handballs, 3 marks
Colin Beard: 11 kicks, 1 handball, 4 marks
Geoff Strang: 15 kicks, 1 handball, 3 marks
Graham Burgin: 12 kicks, 1 handball, 4 marks
Ian Owen: 9 kicks, 1 handball, 2 marks
Francis Bourke: 16 kicks, 5 handballs, 2 marks
Bill Barrot: 25 kicks, 4 handballs, 9 marks
Dick Clay: 19 kicks, 3 handballs, 6 marks
Roger Dean: 26 kicks, 5 handballs, 8 marks
Royce Hart: 21 kicks, 3 handballs, 9 marks
John Northey: 10 kicks, 2 handballs, 3 marks
Mike Perry: 9 kicks, 5 handballs, 2 marks
Eric Moore: 14 kicks, 2 handballs, 8 marks
Billy Brown: 16 kicks, 3 handballs, 5 marks
Mike Green: 8 kicks, 4 handballs, 5 marks
Mike Bowden: 10 kicks, 8 handballs, 5 marks
Kevin Bartlett: 28 kicks, 0 handballs, 8 marks
John Ronaldson (19th man): 6 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks
Brenton Miels (20th man): 5 kicks, 1 handball, 2 marks
