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 review Richmond’s Round 5 match against Melbourne that resulted in a 19-point win for the Tigers.
A strong finish by Richmond enabled it to shake off a determined challenge by Melbourne in a spirited Round 5 encounter at the MCG.
The Tigers trailed by three points at three quarter-time and the lead changed four times in the final term before the highly-fancied 1972 Grand Finalists eventually seized control and went on to secure victory.
Richmond had just eight goals on the board at the last change but scored a further eight goals (8.5) in an impressive last-quarter display to Melbourne’s five goals (5.1).
Ruckman Craig McKellar got right on top at the crucial centre bounces for the Tigers with his capacity to leap high and punch the ball a long way forward.
Then, players such as captain Royce Hart, Francis Bourke and Ricky McLean, who had been well held by their Demon opponents, suddenly emerged.
Hart, curbed by Stephen Kerley for three quarters, responded in trademark superb style to the task of lifting the Tigers and finished with three goals.
Bourke, kept in check for most of the match by Ross Brewer, was moved to the wing, where he generated drive for the team with his penetrating long kicks.
McLean, at full-forward had been totally blanketed by John Tilbrook for three quarters. In the final term, however, he cut loose, booting four goals, three of them in about eight minutes.
Star rover Kevin Bartlett was Richmond’s best players over the course of the four quarters.
Bartlett ran relentlessly, picked up the most disposals by any player on the ground, and kicked two valuable goals.
Roger Dean and Paul Sproule were two other top contributors for the Tigers with their work around the packs.
The win took Richmond’s record for the season to four wins, one loss and third place on the ladder with a percentage of 109.2.
Match details
Richmond 3.3 5.6 8.9 16.14 (110)
Melbourne 2.3 5.7 8.12 13.13 (91)
Goals – Richmond: McLean 4, Hart 3, Balme 2, Bartlett 2, Clay 2, Cumming 2, Morris.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 27, Dean 27, Sproule 24, Hart 19, Wood 16.
Best – Richmond: Bartlett, Hart, Dean, McGhie, Sproule, McKellar, Morris.
Goals – Melbourne: Keenan 2, Alves 2, Brewer 2, Parke 2, Kerley, Ditterich, Wells, Delmenico, Callery.
Leading disposal-winners – Melbourne: Callery 26, Wells 23, Bourke 19, Kerley 17, Alves 16.
Best – Melbourne: Wells, Keenan, Callery, Biffin, Bourke, Ditterich, Tilbrook.
Crowd: 37,685.
