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. Our focus today is on Richmond’s victory over Melbourne in Round 4 of the ’74 season. Here is a review of the match by leading football writer for The Age newspaper at the time, Ron Carter.
Pity Richmond the day anything happens to rover Kevin Bartlett, the leader in “The Age” footballer of the year award.
Bartlett has had some fine seasons with the Tigers, but he could be headed for his best ever this year.
He’s played great games in the dry this year and, on Saturday in the mud at the MCG, his high standard barely dropped at all.
Without him Richmond would probably not be where it is, with three wins. He certainly was the difference between their winning or losing Saturday’s game against Melbourne.
As usual he was the highest kick-getter of the match and his four goals made him the top scorer as well.
Naturally enough he was the Tigers’ best player once again – a habit Bartlett enjoys, no doubt.
Melbourne could find no answer to his uncanny wet weather play. He made it look so easy.
When Bartlett was not boring in for the ball, he was running the legs off his Melbourne opponents.
The Demons had a couple of great wet weather players as well – ruck-rover Gary Hardeman and centreman Greg Wells.
On the day, Hardeman was probably just a shade more effective than Bartlett, but he didn’t get quite the same support from his team-mates as Bartlett.
Although selected at centre half-back, Hardeman started the day as a ruck-rover against Kevin Sheedy and he carried out his assignment in fine fashion.
And with Wells driving the ball from the centre – he was selected as a rover – the Demons really had something going for them.
And then there was big Carl Ditterich charging around the ground and looking as menacing as only he can.
He showed no signs of the groin injury which has made him suspect this year.
But still the Demons failed . . . and for one good reason. The forwards let the side down.
If they had got more value from the good work which got the ball into the forward area, the result might have been different.
Of course, credit must go to the Richmond defence.
It’s hard to beat fellows like Robert McGhie, Wayne Walsh, Francis Bourke and Laurie Fowler, when they are on their game, and they were on Saturday.
Match details
Richmond 3.5 7.9 10.12 13.16 (94)
Melbourne 2.6 4.8 6.10 9.15 (69)
Goals – Richmond: Bartlett 4, Carter 2, Rae 2, Sproule 2, Green, Hunt, Sheedy.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Walsh 34, Bartlett 33, Sheedy 31, Morris 25, Rae 22, Sproule 21, Fowler 20, Keane 20.
Best players – Richmond: Bartlett, Walsh, McGhie, Bourke, Sproule, Sheedy, McKellar.
Goals – Melbourne: Hardeman 2, Smith 2, Brewer, Collins, Ditterich, Flower, Wells.
Leading disposal-winners – Melbourne: Wells 33, Hardeman 31, Slade 24, Ditterich.
Best players – Melbourne: Hardeman, Wells, Ditterich, Owens, Alves, Biffen.
Attendance: 28,080.
