Tony Greenberg reflects on Bill Barrot’s inspirational exploits in the 1969 Grand Final triumph over Carlton.

Richmond champion Bill Barrot was at the peak of his considerable football power going into the 1969 Grand Final against Carlton.

Just five weeks earlier, he had almost single-handedly lifted the Tigers to a famous come-from-behind victory over the Blues at their Princes Park home ground.

With Richmond trailing by nearly five goals midway through the second quarter of what was a must-win game for the Tigers, legendary coach Tommy Hafey shifted Barrot from his customary position in the centre to full-forward on Carlton’s star full-back Wes Lofts.

It was a move that was to change the course of Yellow and Black history . . .

Barrot proceeded to grab the game by the scruff of the neck in his own inimitable, barnstorming style.

The man affectionately known as ‘Bugsy’, or ‘Bustling Billy’, went on to kick eight goals in a breathtaking performance that inspired the Tigers to a glorious 29-point triumph – 24.12 (156) to 20.7 (127).

Richmond went on to clinch fourth spot in the final four the following week, before obliterating Geelong in the first semi, and then comfortably defeating Collingwood in the preliminary final, to set up what shaped as a classic clash with Carlton in the Grand Final of 1969.

Before a huge MCG crowd of 119,165, the two great traditional rivals squared off in sunny, but windy conditions, for league football’s ‘Holy Grail’.

Barrot thrived on the atmosphere and pressure of such a big occasion.  He had starred for the Tigers in their drought-breaking 1967 Grand Final success against Geelong, and risen to the challenge in many big games since then.

It’s fair to say, however, that his start to the 1969 Grand Final was uncharacteristically slow, picking up just three disposals in the opening quarter – two of them from free kicks.

Midway through the second term, Richmond held a slender advantage on the scoreboard, but needed to find a spark from somewhere, so it could seize control of what was proving a tight, low-scoring slog.

Just as he had done five weeks earlier, in that critical home-and-away match against Carlton, coach Hafey turned to Bill Barrot in a bid to set the Tigers alight.

He moved Barrot to the goalmouth on key Blues’ backman Wes Lofts, hoping lightning would strike twice in the same place in a football sense.

Elliott Cartledge, in his excellent book, ‘The Hafey Years’, described what happened next . . .

“Switched to full-forward, Barrot landed a blow halfway through the (second) quarter with a mark and goal almost on the goal line itself.  (John) Northey had gathered an errant throw-in, handpassed to (Michael) Bowden, who gave it onto (Kevin) Bartlett.  His shot at goal landed in Barrot’s arms.  In typical fashion, he torpedoed the ball through from five metres out.

“Barely two minutes later, Tiger skipper (Roger) Dean benefitted from a free in the goal square and also kicked truly.  From the bounce in the middle, Bartlett gathered and found Barrot, who was now in everything.  Fortunately for the Blues his shot missed, but from consecutive attacks Carlton could only register behinds.  As the ball was delivered into the Tigers’ forward line, Barrot yet again took possession and snapped cleverly to bring up Richmond’s fifth goal, opening up a 22-point break.  That became 28 points as Barrot kicked long to find Ronaldson, who goaled . . .

“With a four-goal-to-one term in a low-scoring affair, Richmond had Carlton on the ropes.  The move of Barrot to the forward line had provided a genuine spark; his seven kicks and two goals for the quarter were reminiscent of his outstanding play at Princes Park when these two teams last met.”

Largely due to Barrot’s burst of brilliance, the Tigers took a handy 22-point lead into the half-time break.

And, when elusive half-forward John Northey goaled early in the third term after receiving a free kick, Richmond looked like running away with the premiership.

The Blues, however, managed to regroup, work their way back into the contest, and then produce a run-on of goals, to hit the front.

They actually led by 10 points, before a gutsy mark and subsequent goal by Tiger forward Eric Moore cut the margin to four points at three-quarter time.

Despite that late goal, Carlton looked like it had the necessary momentum to finish strongly and take the flag.

Bill Barrot, however, had other ideas . . .

Nine minutes into a goalless final term, Barrot marked a pass from clever Tiger small man Billy Brown on the half-forward flank, members’ side of the ground.

What followed was vividly described in ‘The Hafey Years’ . . .

“Cheekily, he (Barrot) raised the ball in one hand and showed it off to the crowd.

‘Holding the ball up was just elation,’ Barrot said.  ‘I didn’t know why I did a lot of those things.  It didn’t make me popular with opposition fans.  They used to spit at me, throw lighted cigarettes at me’.

“The resulting kick for goal made him very popular with Richmond fans – the long-range torpedo punt sailed through to give the Tigers the lead once again . . . Soon after Ronaldson handballed to Northey deep in attack and his left-foot snap through the middle gave Richmond some breathing space.

“Once again, it seemed Hafey’s fanatical approach to fitness would pay dividends, as many of the Carlton players struggled to stay in the contest . . .

“At the start of time-on, the Tigers led by just 13 points, but the Blues were out on their feet.  Bartlett’s kick to the teeth of goal found (19^th man Graeme) Bond, who marked and kicked truly for what would be his only – but decisive – possession of the match . . .

“Shortly after, Bartlett spun out of a pack and snapped his first goal to extend the lead to 25 points.  Richmond had 70 kicks to Carlton’s 37 for the quarter, such was the dominance.

“After a fine contested mark on the back flank to (Barry) Richardson, the siren sounded, handing the Tigers the premiership . . .

“Barrot (17 kicks, eight marks and three goals) was possibly the difference between the two sides.”

Here’s how ‘Footy Week’ newspaper viewed Barrot’s superb, team-lifting goal in the final quarter of the ’69 Grand Final . . .

“Bill Barrot provided the highlight of the game.  Racing toward the gate where the Test cricketers come on to the ground, Barrot took a great mark.  The flamboyant Barrot threw the ball in the air like a keeper’s victory catch.  Fifty yards out on a bad angle, Barrot speared it through.  The Tigers were on their way to their second flag within two years . . .”

Barrot was probably shaded for best-on-ground honors by Richmond’s dominant young ruckman Michael Green and star rover Bartlett.

But there’s no denying the incredible influence he exerted on the outcome of the 1969 Grand Final due to his exuberant, dynamic, inspirational efforts.

His three goals, in a low-scoring battle, were worth their weight in gold.

Match details
Richmond            2.2          6.5          8.6          12.13  (85)
Carlton                 1.4          2.7          8.10        8.12  (60)
Goals – Richmond:  Barrot 3, Moore 2, Northey 2, Bartlett, Bond, Dean, Hart, Ronaldson.
Best – Richmond:  Green, Bartlett, Barrot, Dean, Burgin, Strang, Sheedy, Owen, Bowden, Richardson.