In the lead-up to big-time football returning to Punt Road Oval at the ME Bank Centre in 2014, with Richmond’s standalone VFL team set to play its home games at the iconic venue, we kick off a special series featuring some of the ground’s major highlights since 1885.  Today, we take a look at the Tigers’ first VFA and VFL games at Punt Road Oval . . .

Richmond Football Club was officially formed on February 20, 1885.

The Club played its first game against another club at Punt Road Oval on April 25 that year, when it took on south Richmond club Cremorne in a pre-season practice match.

Just 6 weeks till Round 1, ‘Bring the Roar Home’ with the Tigers and become a member today.

Despite the fact Cremorne fielded 23 players, the Tigers were able to overcome that handicap, winning a low-scoring affair – 2.12 to 1.4.

Richmond opened the 1885 Victorian Football Association season with a loss in an away match at Williamstown on May 2.

The following week, however, (May 9) the Tigers played host to University at Punt Road, and triumphed – 3.13 to 1.12.

Thanks to the diligent research of the Club’s History and Tradition committee member, Trevor Ruddell, we can report that Williams Wells was the first player to kick a goal for Richmond in an official match at Punt Road Oval.

Wells, whose son and grandson also subsequently played for Richmond, scored the goal with a good, old-fashioned place kick, from 30 yards out.
 

Following that first home win, Peter Pindar, a scribe for ‘The Australasian’ newspaper wrote:  “Their (Richmond’s) splendid facilities for practice – individual and collective – on the local cricket ground should render them capable of even greater things”.
 

Richmond struggled in its VFA debut season, winning four and drawing two of its 18 games.  Three of those wins, and both draws, were at home.

It wasn’t until the dawn of the new century that the Tigers emerged as a force in the Association competition.

They won 10 of their 16 matches in the 1900 season to finish in third place.

Two years later, Richmond won its first premiership, finishing on top of the ladder at the end of the 1902 VFA season (there was no finals system in operation then) after winning 15 of its 16 matches.

The Tigers would go on to secure another VFA premiership in 1905, before quitting the competition at the end of the 1907 season after gaining admission to the Victorian Football League.

Two renowned Collingwood identities spearheaded Richmond’s charge into the league in 1908.

Dick Condon, who had captained and coached the Magpies, was the Tigers’ inaugural VFL coach, with Charlie Pannam, ex-Collingwood captain, the Club’s skipper.

On Saturday, May 2, 1908, Richmond ran out onto Punt Road Oval for its first league game, up against neighbouring team Melbourne.

Aside from playing coach Condon and captain Pannam, the Tigers boasted other top-line performers such as Billy Schmidt, Bill Lang, Tom Heaney, Len Incigneri, Billy Luff, Jack Megson, Jack Hardiman, Bill Mahoney and Charlie Williams.

Melbourne, which had finished fifth in 1907, was weakened through the absence of several of its key players.

In a gesture that was considered fine sportsmanship, but would surely raise a few eyebrows today, the Melbourne players gathered in a circle pre-game and gave three cheers for the newcomers, with supporters of both sides joining in.

Richmond responded in the best possible way, recording an 11-point win in a tough, see-sawing encounter – 8.14 (62) to 7.9 (51).
 

Here’s the match report from ‘The Argus’ newspaper of May 4, 1908 . . .

“Neither side gave an absolutely first-class exhibition of football, and it was clear that Richmond found difficulty in forgetting the Association practice of not kicking the ball in the ruck, and were to some extent handicapped by it . . . Although Richmond had the wind with them in the opening quarter, they made such poor use of it, while Melbourne, on the contrary, played such a good defensive game that the Reds looked like winning . . . In the first quarter, against the wind, Melbourne got the goals and Richmond the behinds.  As they went on Richmond played more strongly, and a successful eight minutes towards the close of the second quarter, when they got a cluster of three goals, put them in heart.
 

“The third was the best quarter of the day, and saw a still more decided advance in their form.  Condon, their (Richmond’s) new coach, was urging them to play straight down the centre, and the effect was soon manifest.  The game inclined to be somewhat too vigorous in this term, but the umpire rigorously penalised offenders still they mended their methods.  When the last quarter commenced Richmond were 10 points ahead, and practically the state of the game was not altered.  Richmond lasted better than the Reds, and just about deserved their 11-point victory.  One will need to see them on a larger ground before estimating their chances in league company, but their victory on Saturday was received with the wildest enthusiasm.  There were speeches before, during, and after the match.
 

“The pick of the men in Richmond colours on Saturday were Luff on the half-back line, Heaney half-forward and following, and Megson in the centre.  Four of their new men shaped very well indeed, though Condon had not recovered his Collingwood form.  The other three were Ohlson, a Northcote junior, whose forward work was excellent, Burns of South Bendigo, who was first rate on the half-back line; and Burke, a Collingwood junior.  Schmidt scored four of their goals, and other good performers were Hill, Lang and Mahoney . . .”