To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1980 premiership, richmondfc.com.au is transporting Yellow and Black barrackers back in time throughout 2020 to follow the Punt Road path to that fantastic flag triumph. Today we take a look Richmond’s Round 5 match of the ’80 season against Fitzroy at the MCG, which took place on Friday, April 25 before a crowd of 44,401.
Richmond went on a goalkicking spree in its Anzac Day 1980 clash with Fitzroy at the MCG.
The Tigers equalled the highest score in their league football history, piling on 29.25 (199) to smash the Lions by 118 points.
After a relatively even opening term, with Richmond leading by 10 points at the first break, the home team turned it on in the second quarter, scoring 7.7, while Fitzroy could manage only five behinds.
Nine goals up at half-time, the Tigers continued to hold sway in the third quarter. They peppered the goals, but successfully steered through just five of their 16 shots for the term. The Lions kicked 5.5 to trail by 10 goals at the final change.
In the team’s huddle at three quarter-time, Richmond coach Tony Jewell urged his charges to finish strongly and not coast to the line. They responded superbly, with an 11-goal barrage (11.6) in the last quarter to Fitzroy’s 2.2, to record a mammoth 118-point win.
Talented, hard-running midfielder Barry Rowlings was outstanding for the Tigers, racking up 30 disposals and kicking six goals.
Geoff Raines dominated in the centre, finishing with a game-high 37 disposals, while other skilful, fleet-footed Tigers such as Dale Weightman, Robert Wiley and Paul Sarah also were prominent throughout the contest.
Up forward, Richmond had major winners in Michael Roach, David Cloke, Bruce Monteath and Kevin Bartlett, who booted 15 goals between them.
Cloke, in particular, was brilliant, finishing the match with 29 disposals, nine marks and three goals.
The Tigers’ Tyntynder recruit Terry Smith continued the fine start to his VFL career. Smith, in just his third game at senior league level, had 21 disposals, took five marks and kicked a goal.
Match details
Richmond 6.1 13.8 18.19 29.25 (199)
Fitzroy 4.3 4.8 9.13 11.15 (81)
Goals – Richmond: Rowlings 6, Roach 5, Monteath 4, Bartlett 3, Cloke 3, Sarah 2, Wiley 2, Raines, Smith, Weightman, Wood.
Leading possession-winners – Richmond: Raines 37, Rowlings 30, Cloke 29, Wiley 29, Sarah 27, Weightman 23, Keane 22, Smith 21.
Goals – Fitzroy: Irwin 3, Mugavin 3, Allan, Beecroft, Conlan, Gilmore, Thompson.
Leading possession-winners – Fitzroy: Wilson 30, Allan 18, Mugavin 17, Hansen 15.
