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 loss to Collingwood in Round 9 of the ’73 season.
An undermanned Richmond side was outclassed by Collingwood in the Queen’s Birthday Monday clash at VFL Park, Waverley.
The Tigers, without the services of star players in captain Royce Hart, Kevin Bartlett, Neil Balme and Barry Richardson, who were all injured, could not contain the slick Magpies outfit.
Teenager Murray Thompson - the son of then Victorian State Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Lindsay Thompson - made his senior debut for Richmond and performed admirably in his role as a rover, picking up 18 disposals.
Another teenage Tiger, Robert Lamb, continued to impress in his debut season of VFL football, kicking three goals from a half-forward flank.
At the other end of the age and experience scale, Richmond’s veteran champion centreman Ian Stewart was superb throughout the contest, racking up 33 disposals and using the ball with his trademark class.
Rex Hunt took a team-high nine marks for the Tigers and had plenty of the ball, while Kevin Sheedy and Francis Bourke were tireless in their efforts to lift the team.
It was all to no avail, however, as Collingwood went on its merry way with Len Thompson dominating in the ruck, the Richardson brothers (Wayne and Max) and Bulldog recruit George Bisset at their ball-winning best, and superstar full-forward Peter McKenna making the most of all his opportunities.
The Magpies jumped Richmond from the outset and took a comfortable 28-point lead into the quarter-time break.
There wasn’t much between the teams during the second quarter, but Collingwood reasserted its authority in the third term, scoring 4.4 and holding the Tigers to just two points.
Although Richmond did fight it out in the last quarter, the Magpies were in cruised control and ran out convincing winners by 39 points.
Match details
Richmond 3.2 6.2 6.4 10.6 (66)
Collingwood 7.6 10.8 14.12 15.15 (105)
Goals – Richmond: Lamb 3, Sproule 2, Stewart, Dean, Clay, McLean, Bond.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Stewart 33, Hunt 25, Bourke 21, Sheedy 21.
Best – Richmond: Stewart, Hunt, Sheedy, Bourke, McGhie, Bond.
Goals – Collingwood: McKenna 7, Bisset 2, Oborne 2, Heard 2, Thompson, Gott.
Leading disposal-winners – Collingwood: W. Richardson 34, Bisset 28, M. Richardson 27, Price 26, Salmon 21, Dean 20.
Best – Collingwood: Thompson, W. Richardson, M. Richardson, Bisset, McKenna, Dean.
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