To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1974 premiership, Richmond Media is transporting Yellow and Black barrackers back in time throughout 2024 to follow the Punt Road path to that tremendous triumph. Today, we delve into the archives of The Age newspaper again for a review of Richmond’s Round 3 match of the ’74 season against Carlton at Princes Park by young football writer Mike Sheahan.
Every once in a while sport produces an epic contest, a full-blooded, thrilling clash of true champions.
Clashes such as Joe Frazier versus Muhammad Ali . . . John Newcombe v Stan Smith . . . Dennis Lillee v Geoff Boycott.
On Saturday it was the turn of Richmond and Carlton.
The atmosphere, fierceness and skill which makes matches memories were all that at Princes Park as the two teams battled it out for the first time since the Tigers’ 1973 Grand Final triumph.
Richmond reasserted its superiority in a violent clash of the VFL’s keenest rivals; but the contest was superb.
Passages of brilliant play were interspersed with sensational incidents and changes on the scoreboard.
There were regular flashes of vintage Jesaulenko, Richmond’s devastating scoring bursts, an awesome clash of heavyweights, Nicholls and Brown, and three separate reports involving superstars Hart, Bourke and Walls.
Richmond clinched the game in the second quarter when it unleashed its magnificent power to pile on seven goals in 21 minutes.
A quarter-time deficit of 27 points was converted into a 13-point lead at half-time.
Both teams added three goals in the third term, but the Tigers roared again in the last quarter, scoring 6.4 to 2.2 to win by 38 points.
Carlton captain-coach John Nicholls said after the game the inability of several of his experienced players to handle the wet conditions and Richmond’s luck with umpiring decisions in the second quarter decided the match.
But it was the dynamic trio of Kevins – Bartlett, Sheedy and Morris – 19th man Stephen Rae and former West Australian Mal Brown who destroyed the Blues.
With more than a little help from their friends, they ripped the Carlton defence apart with pace, handball and long kicking.
When the Blues went forward, they were frustrated by a tight Richmond defence led by Fowler, McGhie and Keane, or the shameful waste of scoring chances by high marking David McKay.
Nicholls, who gave his most energetic display for many matches, showed he is still a top ruckman, but the Carlton big men were outpointed.
At ground level, Armstrong and Hall won plenty of kicks, but Sheedy, Morris and Sproule were far more damaging.
Richmond’s handpassing, with Brown and Rae the prime movers, was excellent, and the faultless backing up resulted in countless attacks.
Doull and Southby defended stoutly, but had too much to contend with. Richmond had eight goalkickers, including promising winger Stephen Parsons, who made a most impressive debut.
Match details
Richmond 1.5 9.6 12.7 18.11 (119)
Carlton 5.8 6.11 9.13 11.15 (81)
Goals – Richmond: Brown 3, Hart 3, Sheedy 3, Sproule 3, Green 2, Morris 2, Parsons, Rae.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 33, Sproule 27, Morris 23, Sheedy 22, Parsons 18.
Best players – Richmond: Bartlett (best on ground), Sheedy, Morris, Fowler, Parsons, Sproule, Rae.
Goals – Carlton: McKay 3, Armstrong 2, Walls 2, P. Hall, Jackson, Jones, Walsh.
Leading disposal-winners – Carlton: Armstrong 26, Jesaulenko 21, Keogh 20, Walsh 19.
Best players – Carlton: Doull, Jesaulenko, Armstrong, O’Connell, Jackson, McKay, Quirk.
Attendance: 32,688
Reports: Royce Hart (Richmond) for deliberately striking Vin Waite (Carlton). Hart subsequently received a two-match suspension by the VFL’s tribunal.
Francis Bourke (Richmond) for deliberately kicking Robert Walls (Carlton). Bourke was cleared of the charge.
Robert Walls (Carlton) for deliberately striking Kevin Bartlett (Richmond). Walls was cleared of the charge.
