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 take a look at Richmond’s clash with Geelong in Round 17 of the ’74 season, highlighted by an outstanding display from champion Tiger rover Kevin Bartlett. Here is a review of the match by the Sunday Observer’s Paul Doswell.
The “Little Master” – Kevin Bartlett – turned Richmond’s victory over Geelong at VFL Park into a personal triumph.
Bartlett, in an incredible display of roving, in icy, soggy conditions, rattled up an amazing 38 kicks, six hand-balls and three marks.
He said after the game he thought this was a personal record for him in VFL football.
Yesterday was Richmond’s day of the veterans.
“Old Stagers” Bartlett, Royce Hart, Francis Bourke and Kevin Sheedy spear-headed the Tigers’ easy win over a team which in recent years has often proved Richmond’s nemesis.
Geelong beat Richmond by ten points in the first round.
As a relieved Tom Hafey, Richmond’s coach, pointed out: “Geelong has troubled us for all the years I have been at Richmond.”
Hafey, no advocate of the cult of the personality, said: “Bartlett is a great little player.”
The Tigers yesterday toyed with Geelong. They played perfect wet-weather football, getting the ball swiftly away from the pack, and booting it downfield as far as possible.
Geelong were not disgraced; they were just not in Richmond’s class. Geelong coach, Polly Farmer, said: “The result was disappointing but not the team’s effort.
“The best feature of our game was the way we played it right out to the end.”
Polly Farmer said that the heavy rain in the second quarter had cost the Cats dearly.
Geelong had stacked the back line in the first quarter when Richmond was kicking with a strong wind and had held the Tigers to a 15-point lead at quarter time.
But it was the third quarter which cost Geelong the game.
The Tigers, playing full of confidence, kicked three goals and five points. The nearest the Cats came to scoring was a mis-kick from Ricky Browne which went out of bounds near the point post.
But back to Bartlett: his reading of the game was unbelievable.
Bartlett’s tally of kicks gives some indication of the influence he had over the match for the four quarters – nine kicks in the first quarter, eleven in the second, nine in the third, and nine in the fourth.
There has been concern that Bartlett is in danger of burning himself out, but Kevin scoffed at this after the game.
“I came up very well,” he said – a statement full of menace for the other sides which make the five.
Typical of the danger that Richmond hold for the other finalists was the attitude of rugged Kevin Sheedy at three-quarter time when he was obviously “kicking himself” for missing a goal directly in front as the siren sounded.
Sheedy, whose determination to win was an inspiration, said in the dressing room after the game: “I was annoyed with myself as I looked out there. I like to kick goals.”
Tom Hafey, who doesn’t believe in being over-optimistic, thinks Richmond is playing below its best, but is about to “come good”.
Match detai
Richmond 4.4 7.7 10.12 13.15 (93)
Geelong 2.1 4.7 4.7 8.9 (57)
Goals – Richmond: Richmond: Morris 3, Balme 2, Bartlett 2, Roberts 2, Sproule 2, Bourke, Hart.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 44, Thorpe 27, Hart 24, Bourke 23, Cumming 22, Sheedy 21.
Best players – Richmond: Bartlett (best on ground), Hart, Bourke, Thorpe, Cumming, Balme.
Goals – Geelong: Clarke 2, I. Nankervis 2, Sarah 2, Hunt, Whatman.
Leading disposal-winners – Geelong: Clarke 26, I. Nankervis 26, Newman 24, B. Nankervis 23, Doyle 20.
Best players – Geelong: Newman, B. Nankervis, Clarke, I. Nankervis, Sarah, Woolnough.
Attendance: 15,578.
