Club historian Rhett Bartlett has unearthed another Tiger treasure – footage of Richmond’s rousing Round 3, 1970 final quarter against Carlton at the MCG.

This film had not been publicly seen since its original broadcast on Channel Nine that day in 1970 – Saturday, April 18.

Rhett purchased the film reel after it was discarded and put up for auction. He paid to get it digitised, and the result is a priceless piece of Tigerland tradition.

Richmond had beaten Carlton in the 1969 Grand Final but was winless after two rounds of the 1970 season, with the Blues having won both their matches.

Midway through the second quarter of this crucial Round 3 encounter, Carlton was crushing the Tigers, leading by nearly nine goals, and seemingly on track for a thumping victory.

The Tigers, however, dug deep and produced one of the greatest comebacks in their history to emerge winners by 13 points – 17.12 (114) to 15.11 (101). In an epic last quarter, they piled on eight goals (8.3) to four (4.2). 

Here’s how ‘The Age’ football reporter at the time, Michael Smith, assessed Richmond’s fantastic fightback . . .

“The casual observer could have been excused for thinking Carlton and Richmond had swapped guernseys during the half-time interval at the MCG.

In the first half, Carlton set about obliterating the memory of last year’s Grand Final loss in a manner that quenched even the most one-eyed Carlton supporter’s thirst for revenge.

The stage was set for an annihilation, with Carlton superior in all parts of the field. The five-goal lead the Blues held at the interval did not do justice to their supremacy.

Carlton was playing true “Richmond-style” football – quick passing, and great backing up. It had loose men all over the forward line and its defence was as firm as a rock.

Poor Richmond. It must have felt ashamed to hold the title of reigning premiers.

But then it happened. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde had nothing on the change that came over the game in the second half.

Richmond, which has been playing with a premiership “hangover” this season, bounced back into top gear to snatch the four premiership points from under the noses of the bewildered Blues.

The man most responsible for Richmond’s revival was Dick Clay. Switched from the centre late in the second quarter, Clay took charge at full forward and booted five goals.

Carlton full back Wes Lofts had been one of Carlton’s best early in the game, but he just could not keep up with Clay’s fast leads and marking skill.

The Carlton rucks, led by a tired-looking John Nicholls, fell away. The Richmond ruckmen did not hold a decisive advantage, but the Tigers seemed to be able to whisk the ball out of the packs and generate their fast-moving game that was so damaging in last year’s final series.

Wingman Francis Bourke, who had fought an almost lone-hand battle to keep the Tigers in the game in the first half, was supported all over the field in the second half.

Carlton, which had pressured Richmond into fundamental errors in the first half, made the same mistakes itself after half-time.

But it had one player who did not make a mistake all day – Alex Jesaulenko. This man is magnificent.

Although he kicked only six goals, he had a hand in 11 of Carlton’s 15 goals.

Twice in the last quarter as Richmond whittled Carlton’s lead to a few points, Jesaulenko snapped goals to give his side the break.

Carlton failed badly under pressure in the last few minutes of the game. The scores were level at the 18-minute mark of the last quarter, but after that the ball was rarely in Carlton’s scoring zone.

Besides Clay and Bourke, players who were instrumental in Richmond’s revival were rover, Kevin Bartlett, flanker, John Northey and skipper, Roger Dean, who was an inspiration to his side in the fighting last quarter.” 

Match details

Richmond         1.3       4.7       9.9       17.12 (114)
Carlton             6.3       9.7       11.9     15.11 (101)

Goals – Richmond: Clay 5, Bartlett 2, Dean 2, Moore 2, Smythe 2, Jewell, Northey, Bourke, McInnes.
Best – Richmond: Clay, Bourke, Bartlett, Sheedy, Smythe, Owen.

Goals – Carlton: Jesaulenko 6, Jackson 3, Nicholls 3, Jones 2, Walls.
Best – Carlton: Jesaulenko, Gill, Nicoll, Jackson, Hopkins, Hall. 

If you have any video or audio recording involving Richmond, Rhett Bartlett would love to hear from you. He can be contacted via rbartlett@richmondfc.com.au.