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 delve back into The Age newspaper’s archives for a review of Richmond’s surprise Round 4 loss to North Melbourne at the MCG.
“Four days ago Richmond came away from Moorabbin without any real problem. How things have changed.
All last year’s fears about the defence have cropped up again.
Rugged Sam Kekovich hammered home the fact that Dick Clay is not a true centre half-back for Richmond.
And it could be said that the whole defence relies far too heavily on Francis Bourke and Kevin Sheedy holding it together.
Paul Sproule was outplayed so decisively by John Rantall that his claims to the centre position are suspect.
The wingmen had their colours lowered and up forward the Tigers were lost whenever the ball hit the ground.
Early in the game marking ability helped the forwards overcome their problems, but North later countered this by knocking the ball to the ground.
Royce Hart at centre half-forward and Ricky McLean at full-forward were sadly missed.”
Match details
Richmond 2.7 7.13 9.14 11.18 (84)
North Melbourne 2.5 5.9 8.16 14.20 (104)
Goals – Richmond: Balme 2, P. Cloke 2, Green 2, Morris 2, Roberts 2, Dean.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 31, Bourke 26, Dean 20, Roberts 20, Walsh 19.
Best – Richmond: Bourke, Bartlett, Roberts, Dean, Green, Morris.
Goals – North Melbourne: Kekovich 4, Schimmelbusch 3, Peterson 2, Ryan 2, Wade 2, Feltham.
Leading disposal-winners – North Melbourne: Rantall 33, Peterson 31, Cowton 23, Davis 22, Kekovich 22.
Best – North Melbourne: Rantall, Kekovich, Peterson, Davis, Cowton, Greig.
Crowd: 48,923.
Richmond’s disappointment over its loss to North Melbourne was compounded with the news that champion centreman Ian Stewart had suffered a severe hamstring injury during the match.
Here is The Age’s report of Stewart’s injury issue . . .
“Richmond’s triple Brownlow Medallist Ian Stewart has broken down again and could be out of football for at least a month.
Stewart tore a hamstring muscle early in the second quarter against North Melbourne at the MCG yesterday.
He had twisted and turned several times trying to elude opponents before he felt the hamstring – which has troubled him before – go.
He came straight off the ground and the club doctor said after the match it would be several days before the seriousness of the injury was known.
Stewart was despondent. “I think I’m gone for four or five weeks this time,” he said.
