To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1969 premiership, richmondfc.com.au is regularly transporting Yellow and Black barrackers back in time throughout 2019 to follow the Punt Road path to that fabulous flag triumph.

Today we take a look at an article in ‘The Age’ newspaper, this time 50 years ago, that covered Richmond’s final practice match before the start of the ’69 season.

“Richmond players must have thought they were seeing double on Saturday when they went on to the field for their practice match against Glenelg in Adelaide – their opponents were wearing black and yellow jumpers.

The VFL Tigers had donned all blue for the clash, but players had some difficulty adjusting themselves to the situation.

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Club secretary Mr Alan Schwab reported afterwards: “Some players told me that it was a bit hard at first – a Glenelg player would run past and our players would think ‘who the hell is that’!”

But there was hardly any confusion once the players settled down, and the Tigers went on to thrash Glenelg by 13 goals – 22.21 to 12.3.

There were anxious moments for Richmond early in the first quarter when Glenelg jumped to an early lead of 3.2 before the Tigers scored.

Richmond fought back to take a one-point advantage at quarter time and never looked back.

It was rover Kevin Bartlett who set the Tigers on the path to victory.

Carrying on from last season’s prize-winning form, Bartlett roamed the ground and had 40 kicks.

He also kicked five goals, a tally equalled by his roving partner Bill Brown.

A brilliant second-quarter effort, in which half-forward flankers John Northey and Don Davenport each kicked three goals, lifted the Tigers to a 35-point advantage at half-time.

It was the Richmond of 1967, as the Tigers played the same relentless brand of football which brought them the premiership pennant two years ago.

An official said afterwards the difference between the two sides was that Richmond had 15 good players who combined together while Glenelg had only four.

About 18 players converged on the centre of the ground when players clashed just before the final siren. Umpires dispersed the wrestling players and no reports were made.

In yesterday’s practice match at the Punt Road Oval, Mike Perry, at centre half-back, returned to his dashing form of 1967.

Perry was pitted against Scottsdale recruit Lloyd French for three quarters, then full-forward Royce Hart, who had been playing well in wet conditions, was moved to centre half-forward against Perry for the last quarter.

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Half-back flanker Geoff Strang dislocated a finger during the game.

Strang pushed the finger back into place, and although he was in considerable pain after the game, the injury is not considered to be serious."

Scores in the Adelaide match:

RICHMOND 22.21 (153)  GLENELG 12.3 (75).

Goals – RICHMOND: Bartlett 5, Brown 5, Northey 4, Davenport 3, Hunt 2, Clay, Moore, Smythe.

Best – RICHMOND: Bartlett (best on ground), Davenport, Northey, Bourke, Sheedy, Brown, Bourke, Jewell.