To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1973 premiership, Richmond Media is transporting Yellow and Black barrackers back in time throughout 2023 to follow the Punt Road path to that fabulous flag triumph. Today we take a look at Richmond’s Round 1 match of the ’73 season against Essendon, which took place at Windy Hill on Saturday, April 7 before a crowd of 28,659. Here is a review of the match by The Age newspaper’s leading football writer at the time, Peter McFarline . . .
“Richmond, still smarting from its 1972 premiership loss, began the 1973 season with revenge on its mind.
The unfortunate recipient was Essendon, which went down by two points in a thrilling game at Windy Hill.
The Bombers were great in defeat and it was almost a tragedy the game wasn’t a draw.
The sides were evenly matched in all departments – including the luck of umpire Ian Coates’ decisions.
It was only slight inexperience on the part of the young Bombers that allowed Richmond to slip back into, and steal, the game.
The script could have been written by an advertising agency charged with the task of selling football on an international stage.
Essendon led by a point at quarter-time, nine points at half-time and was down a point at three-quarter time.
Soon after it led by 13 points, and in time-on the lead changed three times before the quarter ended after 40 minutes.
The first three quarters each lasted 35 minutes.
The near capacity crowd saw Hart magic, Sheedy aggression, Bourke toughness and Bartlett speed and anticipation for the Tigers.
For Essendon, there was the marking of recruit Graham Moss, the bullet passes of Fields, the courage of Tuddenham and the sheer audacity of Cassin and Roberts.
The muttering about umpires in the Bomber camp after the game was no excuse.
Richmond was badly weakened by the loss of Barry Richardson and Paul Sproule in the first half.
Tuddenham himself took a heavy kick on the thigh and could only shout encouragement in the second half.
The Bombers need not be disappointed by the loss – there won’t be many more in the next 21 weeks.”
Match details
Richmond 6.3 9.9 13.11 19.15 (129)
Essendon` 6.4 11.8 13.10 19.13 (127)
Goals – Richmond: Hart 6, Fowler 3, Roberts 3, Sheedy 2, Bartlett 2, McLean 2, Green.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 25, Bourke 24, Morris 23, Allford 14, Green 14, Hart 14, Leech 14, Walsh 14.
Best – Richmond: Bourke, Bartlett, Hart, Walsh, Morris, Green.
Goals – Essendon: Roberts 4, Noonan 3, Fletcher 2, Barclay 2, Fields, Parkes, Tuddenham, Cassin, Gross, Perry, Wilson, Delahunty.
Leading disposal-winners – Essendon: Moss 26, Wilson 25, Gross 23, Fields 21, Williams 19, Fletcher 18, Pryor 16.
Best – Essendon: Moss (best on ground), Fletcher, Wilson, Delahunty, Fields, Pryor.
Unfortunately, however, there was a sour note to Richmond’s thrilling victory over Essendon in the opening round of 1973.
Star forward Barry Richardson suffered a serious knee injury early in the match and did not return to the playing field until late in the 1974 season.
Here is The Age’s report of Richardson’s injury . . .
“Barry Richardson’s left foot was pointed in one direction, his knee in another.
So, something had to give when Essendon wingman Ken Fletcher crashed into him at Windy Hill on Saturday.
And it did. The Tiger half-forward fell to the ground in agony as his knee buckled under the strain.
He could not take his kick after taking the mark and had to be helped from the field.
Richardson felt something more in his left knee. If his cartilage is damaged, as feared, it could mean an operation.
That would be the end of the season for him.
A specialist will examine the knee today. Yesterday Richardson was on crutches.
The irony for Richardson is that he has just recovered from a knee operation. Fragments of bone were removed from his knee last October.
Even if the cartilage is not badly damaged, it will be some time before Richardson plays again.”
