You have to go all the way back to 1974 for the last time this Saturday’s MCG blockbuster combatants Richmond and Collingwood met so late in a home-and-away season with both teams occupying top-four spots on the league ladder.
It was Round 20 of the ’74 season when the top-of-the-table Tigers ventured out to Victoria Park to take on the second-placed Magpies.
Both teams had won 15 of their 19 games and were separated on the ladder by percentage only (131.3 to 113.2).
A crowd of 36,729 packed into the Pies’ home ground to watch the traditional rivals battle it out for the vital four points and resultant premiership favouritism.
The hyped clash, however, turned out to be something of a fizzer, with Richmond proving far too accomplished.
The Tigers got the jump early and were never headed on their way to a convincing 27-point win – 16.11 (107) to 10.20 (80).
Richmond would go on to defeat North Melbourne in the Grand Final that year to make it back-to-back premierships, while Collingwood beat Footscray in the elimination final, but was bundled out of the finals race by Hawthorn in the first semi-final.
Here’s how football writer for ‘The Age’ at the time, Mike Sheahan, summarised the Tigers’ important Round 20, 1974 victory over the Magpies . . .
“It’s 5.10 pm and Magpie president Tom Sherrin emerges from the retreat of the Collingwood hierarchy in the change rooms.
Coach Neil Mann stands relaxed with beer in hand, chatting to Bill Twomey, an official.
Mann finishes his beer, combs his hair and cheerfully appears for the customary after-game press conference.
Across in the visitors’ rooms Richmond coach Tom Hafey stands solemn in the shadow of grim-faced club president Ian Wilson.
Richmond has emerged triumphant yet again, but there are two rounds and the finals still to play and Hafey is worried about the task of keeping the Tigers on top.
Richmond has just beaten Collingwood by 27 points to tighten its hold on the prized top place, but the atmosphere is much brighter in the Collingwood camp.
Defeat, despised for decades at Victoria Park, apparently doesn’t hurt there any more.
In Mann’s words, the clash with Richmond was “the big one”, but no one in the Magpie camp reflected the importance of the event.
Collingwood has slipped from top place to third in three games after the second successive loss at home; this time to the toughest of its finals rivals.
Mann blames his players’ poor kicking for the loss, but says he is happy with the way they contested the game.
He doesn’t appear disappointed, but says: “Naturally I’m disappointed.”
The disappointment is well founded.
He was let down by several of his key players in a game Collingwood desperately needed to win to boost its confidence for yet another finals series.
The Tigers, again set in motion by magnificent rover Kevin Bartlett, raced to a 21-point lead in the first quarter and were never threatened.
Len Thompson, beaten at centre half-forward by Robert McGhie, rejuvenated the Magpies when he went into the ruck in the third term.
They kicked three goals in five minutes to get within 14 points, But Richmond countered with two goals in two minutes to regain control.
McGhie and his co-defenders were too strong and Bartlett and Michael Green were damaging up forward.
Collingwood made numerous mistakes under pressure and desperate Tigers like Walsh, Sheedy, Bourke and Wood made them pay dearly.
The Woods persisted with their indirect short passing, a contrast in method and effect to the Tigers.”
Match details
Richmond 5.1 9.4 14.7 16.11 (107)
Collingwood 1.4 4.8 8.13 10.20 (80)
Goals – Richmond: Bartlett 4, Green 3, Sheedy 2, Brown 2, Walsh, Thorpe, Balme, Morris, Clayton.
Goals – Collingwood: Dunne 2, Heard 2, Manassa 2, W. Richardson, Clifford, Gott, Kink.
Best – Richmond: McGhie (best-on-ground), Bartlett, Green, Clay, Thorpe, Andrews, Keane.
Best – Collingwood: Williams, Manassa, R. Shaw, Holmes, Dunne, W. Richardson.
Leading possession-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 34, Thorpe 23, Sheedy 18, Walsh 18, Balme 17, Bourke 17, Keane 17, McGhie 17 (10 marks).
Leading possession-winners – Collingwood: Williams 25, W. Richardson 24, Price 22, M. Richardson 20, R. Shaw 20.
