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 look at The Age newspaper’s match review (by Peter McFarline) of Richmond’s clash with Carlton in Round 17 of the ’73 season.
Carlton started celebrating its victory over Richmond 20 minutes into the third quarter at Princes Park on Saturday.
And not even the most ardent Tiger fan could say it was premature.
Big ruckman Peter Jones took a mark close to goal and applauded himself enthusiastically.
Seconds later he kicked straight and threw his long arms into the air in a victory salute.
It wasn’t a sign of over-confidence – rather one of complete confidence that the team would win, and win easily.
And that’s just what Carlton did. In a ruthless return to the form that deserted it during its past few games, the Blues shaded Richmond in the first half then drew away in a classic third-quarter display to lead by 37 points at three-quarter-time.
Jones had plenty of reason to applaud his own goal.
As in last year’s Grand Final, he had mastered the Richmond ruck power usually supplied by Brian Roberts, Craig McKellar and Michael Green and given his rovers a field day.
It was a repeat of the Grand Final in more ways than that, though.
Carlton used much the same tactics, and, strangely, Richmond made many of the same mistakes as it did in last year’s epic.
The Tigers’ usually creative forwards made elementary mistakes under pressure from a solid defence, and a final score of 10.21 shows just how costly the errors were.
Carlton’s half-backs, Philip Pinnell, Bruce Doull and Rod Austin, were stumbling blocks Richmond could not overcome.
In desperation Richmond coach Tom Hafey switched Dick Clay to centre half-back and Kevin Sheedy to a half-back flank at half-time, but it was a panic move that never looked like coming off.
And despite Francis Bourke keeping Alex Jesaulenko quiet, Ian Stewart winning in the centre, and Kevin Bartlett picking up kicks all over the ground, Richmond could not convert its chances into goals.
Geoff Southby gave young full-forward Graham Teasdale a lesson in defensive play, and Paul Sproule was in the horrors in the forward pocket. Only resting ruckman Michael Green was effective around the goals.
But the surprising aspect of the game was Richmond’s complete lack of alternatives when its key players were beaten.
Carlton’s elusive half-forward, Syd Jackson, picked up 23 kicks – but at no stage did the Richmond defenders wake up to his style of running across the centre to help clear the ball from the packs.
The Tigers can no longer kid themselves they can get away from top sides without Royce Hart, Neil Balme and Ricky McLean.
Goals were at a premium for them. When Roberts lined up a kick after the siren when he was surrounded by hundreds of children, two mounted police, and with the Carlton theme song blaring out from the social club.
From the heavy weather his team mates made of goal kicking all day they looked as if they had to contend with far more than that.
Match details
Richmond 2.6 4.10 5.14 10.21 (81)
Carlton 3.4 6.9 11.15 15.17 (107)
Goals – Richmond: Green 3, Roberts 3, Lamb 2, Hewitt, Morris.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 33, Stewart 31, Morris 19, Sheedy 18, Keane 16.
Best – Richmond: Stewart, Bartlett, Fowler, Morris, Bourke, Green.
Goals – Carlton: Jesaulenko 3, Walls 3, Armstrong 2, McKay 2, Walsh 2, Byrne, Jones, Nicholls.
Leading disposal-winners – Carlton: Walsh 26, Armstrong 25, Jackson 25, Keogh 25, Walls 20.
Best – Carlton: Jones, Jackson, Southby, Armstrong, Doull, Pinnell.
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