To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1973 premiership, we are 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 archives for a report on Richmond’s training preparation and selection issues leading into the ‘73 preliminary final against Collingwood at the MCG by the newspaper’s chief football writer at the time, Percy Beames.
Richmond is not used to finals jinxes. That is usually Collingwood territory.
But last night the Tigers were having their doubts.
Kevin Morris and Francis Bourke, whom Richmond had confidently expected would be fit for Saturday’s preliminary final against Collingwood, were in doubt.
Morris, having thrown off the ankle injury that had kept him out for two finals matches, was limping with suspected hamstring trouble and Bourke still had a couple of doubts about his knee.
And that is not the end of Richmond’s worries.
Royce Hart’s troublesome knee has “pulled up” again, and top centreman Ian Stewart and giant follower Brian Roberts have influenza.
Paul Sproule, Robert Lamb and Rex Hunt, three others out of last week’s successful line-up, also paid visits to the medical rooms last night with minor injuries but they all trained.
Unlucky Morris. Chairman of selectors Mr. Alan Cooke said: “We don’t know if the injury is serious. We will have to wait until tomorrow night to find out but you can be sure we won’t be taking any chances with Morris or Bourke.
“If they are fit they will play but they must be fit.”
Bourke trained well – even more convincingly than last Thursday night.
“I want to play and I feel I will as the knee continues to improve day by day. There are still a few days to go but I need to get knocked about with hard bumping and tackling to learn if the knee is really strong,” he said.
He will be put to this test tomorrow night.
Hart walked with a limp and could not train.
“We believe Royce will lose most of the soreness and the swelling will go down for him to train tomorrow night,” said Mr. Cooke.
Stewart and Roberts felt influenza attacks coming on Monday night. They came to the ground to see the doctor.
“Don’t worry about us, we will make it,” they said.
