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. Here is a review of Richmond’s Round 16 match of the ’74 season against St Kilda. 

Richmond recorded a solid victory over St Kilda in their Round 16, 1974 encounter at the MCG.

The Tigers, third on the ladder, when into the match as warm favourites against the eighth-placed Saints but were made to work hard for the four points in what was a tough battle.

At quarter-time, Richmond held a handy 19-point lead and seemed on track for a big win.

Captain and champion centre half-forward Royce Hart had been the catalyst for the Tigers gaining the early ascendancy.

Hart took two magnificent marks in trademark style and kicked truly from both set shots.

St Kilda, however, flipped the script in the second quarter.

The Saints seized the initiative, piling on 6.3 to 2.7 to take a one-point lead into the main break.

During half-time, the rain arrived, and it was expected the wet conditions would favour St Kilda in the second half.

Richmond coach Tommy Hafey was forced to make a change to the line-up due to star ruckman Michael Green nursing sore ribs following a heavy on-field knock.

Talented, tall, Tiger teenager David Cloke came off the bench to replace Green.

Cloke went forward and had an instant impact, booting two goals within five minutes to swing the game back Richmond’s way.

The Tigers outscored their opponents 5.7 to 2.3 in the third term to lead by 21 points at three quarter-time.

They then drew further ahead in the last quarter, kicking 4.7 to 2.5, and were 35 points ahead when the final siren sounded.

That winning margin should have been significantly more, as Richmond had 39 scoring shots to the Saints’ 24.

A major highlight for the Tigers was the form of big man Neil Balme, who initially shared the ruck duties with Green, and then became the team’s No. 1 ruckman in the second half with Green sidelined.

Balme had 20 disposals and took nine marks in a powerful performance.

Clever Richmond half-forward Robert Lamb continued his rich vein of form with three goals, taking his tally to 16 goals in the past four games.

The Tigers’ prized WA recruit Mal Brown, playing at full-forward, had an absorbing duel with rugged St Kilda veteran Kevin “Cowboy” Neale.

In what was akin to a private “war” between the pair, first one, then the other, would get his bulky frame in front of marking contests. Whoever was out-wrestled would strive hard to get front position back.

Brown finished the match with two goals and created several opportunities for teammates through his slick handball.

Match details

Richmond            4.3           6.10        11.17     15.24 (114)
St Kilda                  1.2           7.5           9.8           11.13 (79)                                                                                    

Goals – Richmond: Cloke 3, Hart 3, Lamb 3, Brown 2, Hewitt, Sheedy, Thorpe, Wood.

Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Thorpe 32, Sheedy 26, Bourke 25, Bartlett 23, Balme 20, Hewitt, 20.

Best players – Richmond: Balme, Thorpe, Hart, Bourke, Sheedy, Cloke, Lamb, Morris.

Goals – St Kilda: Callery 4, Sarau 2, Davis, Elliott, Galt, Grambeau, Reynolds.

Leading disposal-winners – St Kilda: Callery 29, Elliott 29, O’Dea 23, Davis, 20.

Best players – St Kilda: Callery, O’Dea, Judson, Elliott, Davis, Greene, Neale, Duperouzel.

Attendance: 28,045