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 examine Richmond’s loss to Hawthorn in Round 8 of the ’73 season at the MCG . . .
Richmond went into its Round 8, 1973 home clash with Hawthorn as a warm favourite, having won six of seven games to that stage of the season and sitting in third place on the league ladder.
Hawthorn occupied sixth spot on the ladder with three wins and four losses, but had crushed Geelong in the previous round by 61 points at Glenferrie Oval.
The Hawks devised a plan to negate Richmond’s ruck giant Brian Roberts, who had been in top form, particularly with his centre-bounce hit-outs.
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‘The Whale’ had a significant height and weight advantage over Hawthorn ruck pair Don Scott and Alan Martello, so they decided there was no point them wrestling with him at the centre bounces (this was before the white line across the centre circle was introduced in the competition).
Instead, they opted to tackle The Whale head on.
When it was their turn to go up against Roberts in the centre-bounce ruck duels, they did so from opposite him (a rarity back then), relying on their greater spring to give them an advantage.
It worked a treat with Scott and Martello curbing Roberts’ influence, enabling the Hawks to control the contest at the source.
The Tigers had beaten Hawthorn 13 times in their previous 15 encounters, but on this late autumn afternoon at the MCG, they were no match for a pumped-up Hawks outfit.
Hawthorn got the jump on Richmond from the outset and took a handy 20-point lead into the quarter-time break.
The second term was fairly even, but the Tigers then managed to get within a goal during the third quarter, before the Hawks reasserted their authority and ran out decisive 37-point winners.
Star rover Kevin Bartlett was Richmond’s best player across the four quarters, running non-stop in trademark style to pick up 27 disposals.
Kevin Sheedy had 23 touches, Roger Dean 20, and big man Michael Green kicked three goals from seven scoring shots.
Overall, however, the Tigers had too many players down on the day and they fell well short of their disciplined, determined opponents.
Match details
Richmond 2.5 5.11 8.18 10.22 (82)
Hawthorn 5.7 8.12 12.18 16.23 (119)
Goals – Richmond: Green 3, Cumming, Dean, Keane, McLean, Morris, Sheedy, Stewart.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 27, Sheedy 23, Dean 20, Clay 17, Stewart 17.
Best – Richmond: Bartlett, Dean, Sheedy, Green, Clay, Stewart.
Goals – Hawthorn: Bevan 5, Moncrieff 3, Grummisch 2, Meagher 2, Hendrie, K. Matthews, L. Matthews, Rice.
Leading disposal-winners – Hawthorn: L. Matthews 27, Meagher 22, Crimmins 21, Parkin 19, Rice 19.
Best – Hawthorn: Martello, L. Matthews, Scott, Parkin, Grummisch, Bevan, Meagher, Rice.
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