To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1974 premiership, Richmond Media will transport Yellow and Black barrackers back in time throughout 2024 to follow the Punt Road path to that tremendous triumph. Kicking off today, we delve into The Age newspaper’s archives for a report from up-and-coming football writer of the day, Mike Sheahan, on Richmond’s first intra-club practice match of the ’74 pre-season.

“Mal Brown, Richmond’s boom centre half-forward from West Australia, was a late withdrawal from yesterday’s opening practice game, but his “replacement” provided adequate compensation.

The Tigers’ injury-prone captain Royce Hart lined up at centre half-forward and comfortably completed the toughest test so far in his recovery from a knee cartilage operation.

Hart, who had a cartilage removed in October last year, kicked two goals and moved freely before he was replaced at half-time in a subdued but promising performance.

He said after the game, at Port Melbourne, that the knee was sound and strong.

Brown, who watched the game intently in the shadow of the outer scoreboard, said he lacked the fitness to play yesterday.

The former WA captain said: “I’m about 80 per cent as fit as I was playing in Perth last year, but I’ll be playing against West Adelaide next Saturday – if I get picked.”

Brown said he would be cleared by East Perth this week.

Kevin Sheedy, Wes Barrot, Kevin Morris, Mike Green, Bill Nettlefold and Merv Keane were the stars of the Tigers’ bright first-up display.

Brown, rovers Kevin Bartlett and Daryl Cumming and Francis Bourke and Neil Balme, still recovering from cartilage operations, missed the match.”