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. Richmond’s final game of the ’74 home-and-away season took place against Footscray at the Western Oval. Here is star Tiger centreman and former Bulldog David Thorpe’s analysis of the match in a special column for The Age newspaper.
Beaten by my old side – the game I wanted to Richmond to win and for me to play well.
Neither happened. It was the worst game Richmond has played since I joined them mid-way through the season and certainly one of my worst ever.
It’s not good losing the last game to a side you may play in the finals, but we learnt plenty.
In a way, it will do our chances a lot of good. On that display, Richmond can no longer be a raging hot favorite for the flag and there needs to be a lot of rethinking.
Richmond didn’t play well at any stage – not even in the third quarter when we kicked five goals to one to hit the lead for the first time.
We were trying all right – going in hard and tackling hard – but we just couldn’t click.
The usual flow-on style with the smaller man running past for the quick handpass and the long kick downfield was missing.
It wasn’t missing from Footscray’s game though. They kept doing it and got the results in the end.
I must admit I was surprised by the Bulldogs. I didn’t think they could play that well for four quarters. I certainly won’t underestimate them in the finals – and neither will my team mates.
I thought Gary Dempsey had the biggest influence on the game. He dominated the ruck and his accurate palming gave Adrian Gallagher, Ray Huppatz and Stewie Magee control of the centre.
We were never able to overcome that problem – and paid the penalty.
It turned into a game of good defences – Footscray had a good half-back line and we had great players in Francis Bourke, Wayne Walsh, Robert McGhie and Dick Clay.
But a handful of good players isn’t enough – especially against top sides at finals time.
But I can guarantee that Richmond will have more than a handful in our finals matches.
Match details
Richmond 2.4 4.7 9.10 11.14 (80)
Footscray 5.4 8.6 9.7 13.9 (87)
Goals – Richmond: Richardson 4, Cloke 2, Balme, Bartlet, Cumming, Morris, Sheedy.
Leading disposal-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 28, Bourke 28, Andrews 23, Sproule 22, Walsh 20.
Best players – Richmond: Bourke, Andrews, Walsh, Fowler, McGhie, Barllett.
Goals – Footscray: Templeton 5, Collins 2, Dempsey 2, Welsh 2, Huppatz, Stoneham.
Leading disposal-winners – Footscray: Stoneham 32, Gallagher 28, Magee 28, Abbey 27, Dell 22, Parke 22, Collins 21, Welsh 20.
Best players – Footscray: Dempsey, Gallagher, Stoneham, Abbey, Salmon, Magee.
Attendance: 25,190
