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 examine Richmond’s convincing win against Footscray at the MCG in Round 11 of the ’74 season via a match review by chief football writer of The Age newspaper at the time, Percy Beames . . .

Richmond coach Tom Hafey made an important discovery as the Tigers downed up-and-coming Footscray in a pressure game at the MCG yesterday . . .

. . . That he had gone through two weeks of needless worry.

Collingwood caused Hafey endless hours worrying whether Richmond’s ability to win this year’s premiership was rapidly drying up.

So well did the Magpies play and so poorly did the Tigers perform in the ninth round it was only natural Hafey had his doubts.

But after the way Richmond handled Footscray yesterday before a crowd of 68,446 now knows the Tigers will be there at the business end of the season.

Richmond jumped into second place, four points behind Collingwood, with its 19.19 to 15.11 win over Footscray.

Richmond proved its class in two ways yesterday – firstly by coping with Footscray’s high marking and pace for three quarters, then clearing right away with brilliant power play.

Footscray just could not stop Richmond taking the ball away from the centre bounces, and when that happens the Tigers are unbeatable.

Hafey admitted he had been worried before the game.

“Footscray had won matches in good style and I didn’t know if we could handle their big men like Dempsey, Welsh, Quinlan, Parke and Sandilands,” he said.

Gary Dempsey, Greg Parke and Laurie Sandilands did worry Hafey and his Tigers, but Peter Welsh and Bernie Quinlan were the disappointments of the match.

Players of their ability need to contribute much more in important matches like yesterday’s.

Richmond did not have this worry. Kevin Sheedy and Kevin Morris could have played better, but at various times they contributed something useful to team efficiency.

Generally, the Tigers got value from all sources, especially when the team was rearranged after half-time with Wayne Walsh going to the centre, and David Cloke and Gareth Andrews switching places, Andrews going into defence.

A turning point in the game when Mervyn Keane smothered a certain goal by Footscray captain Sandilands in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs were leading by nine points when Sandilands, who had kicked five goals, picked up the ball only a few metres from goal.

Keane came from nowhere to take the ball away and within a flash Royce Hart had goaled.

Footscray could not properly get back into gear after that.

For three quarters the Bulldogs gave their supporters no reason to complain, but one or two players appeared to lose heart early in the last quarter.”

Match details

Richmond            4.4           6.9           10.13     19.19 (133)                                                                                 
Footscray             3.3           7.5           11.8        15.11 (101)                                                                                                                     

Goals – Richmond: Balme 5, Sproule 4, Hart 3, Morris 2, Sheedy 2, Bartlett, McLean, Roberts.

Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 30, Sproule 21, Hart 20, Cumming 18, McGhie 18.

Best players – Richmond: Hart (best on ground), McGhie, Balme, Walsh, Bartlett, Morris, Andrews.

Goals – Footscray: Parke 5, Sandilands 5, Salmon 2, Dunstan, Quinlan, Stoneham.

Leading disposal-winners – Footscray: Gallagher 23, Dempsey 20, Casey 19, Parke 19, Stoneham 19.

Best players – Footscray: Dempsey, Power, Parke, Sandilands, Gingell, Merrington, Huppatz.

Attendance: 68,447