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. A week out from the ’74 Grand Final, the aftermath of the Windy Hill brawl earlier in the season was still simmering away. Key Tiger official Graeme Richmond was at loggerheads with the VFL hierarchy, as detailed in this report by The Age newspaper’s leading football writer at the time, Ron Carter.
Former Richmond Football Club team manager Graeme Richmond said last night he was considering legal action against the Victorian Football League directors.
Mr. Richmond was shocked at a League directors’ decision that he should pay a $2000 fine – or else.
He has refused to pay the fine imposed on him by the League following a half-time brawl in the Essendon-Richmond game on May 18.
Last night the League directors decided that unless Mr. Richmond pays the fine by December 31 he would be suspended indefinitely.
The original penalty handed down by the directors was that Mr. Richmond be suspended until the start of next year and that the $2000 fine by paid by September 4.
Mr. Richmond seems certain to fight the League over the whole issue.
Last week he was cleared of an assault charge in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court arising from the Essendon brawl.
Mr. Richmond said he was “very, very disappointed” at last night’s decision.
He said he had attended the meeting on his own free will and had hoped the League would set aside its decision.
“Surely to goodness enough is enough.
“All I ask is they let me do as I was doing before in football,” he said.
Mr. Richmond said it would be a very difficult decision to make, but he was considering taking legal action against the League.
“I am acting on legal advice,” he said.
“At the moment my only real concern is the conflict will be involved in opposite here (at the MCG) on Saturday week,” said Mr. Richmond.
Richmond president Mr. Ian Wilson said: “After the ordeal Graeme has been through, I felt the directors may have reversed their decision in light of the court decision last week.
“I am disappointed at the uncompromising decision by the directors tonight.”
Mr. Richmond arrived at the directors’ meeting smiling and was with them for less than 10 minutes.
He was accompanied to VFL House by his legal adviser, Mr. David Jones, who was not allowed into the meeting with Mr. Richmond.
Mr. Jones said that in a written submission to the League he had asked the directors to withdraw the $2000 fine in view of the Magistrates’ Court decision.
Mr. Jones said: “I submitted today a detailed five-page letter of submissions on Graeme Richmond’s behalf on the way we felt the situation should be dealt with.
“The letter was written with the advice of a QC.
“I asked to address the directors on these matters and made it clear that Mr. Richmond had not come here on a summons, but of his own free will,” he said.
“We came here to resolve the matter on a sensible and amicable basis.”
“The VFL has no legal power to lay the present charge against him and it has power to enforce a monetary penalty against him.”
Mr. Jones was advised by the VFL administrative director, Mr. Eric McCutchan early in the night that he would not be allowed to address the directors.
