To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1980 premiership, Richmond Media 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 at ‘The Sun’ football writer Peter Simunovich’s review of Richmond’s Round 12 match of the ’80 season against Hawthorn at the MCG, which took place on Monday, June 16 before a crowd of 57,572.

Richmond’s forward strength was magnified even more yesterday in the match against Hawthorn at the MCG.

The dominance of tall forwards David Cloke and Michael Roach admirably survived stiff tests against Peter Knights and Kelvin Moore, two of football’s best defenders.

Roach kicked five goals, taking his season’s tally to 60 and Cloke, although kicking only one, did more than a centre half-forward usually does.

Cloke’s height and strength make him one of the most lethal players in the VFL and with clever and quick little men like Dale Weightman, Kevin Bartlett and Robert Wiley running past, Richmond’s attack is second to none.

At the other end of the ground, Hawthorn had as many opportunities as Richmond, but did not kick goals.

Full-forward Michael Moncrieff kicked an embarrassing 1.6 from deliberate shots, which should have yielded him at least four goals.

Hawthorn’s inaccuracy up forward virtually cost it the match, but it was to the team’s credit that it pushed the ball so close to goals after Jim Jess had covered Andy Bennett at centre half-forward.

That was where Leigh Matthews and Norm Goss did most of their good work.

Matthews, in particular, and Jess, were the most damaging players on the ground.

Jess repeatedly stopped Hawthorn and, with his long kicks, put his side into attack.

Matthews was at his lethal best, collecting kicks off packs and forcing his way through opponents in the same fashion as a Joe Frazier.

Although Richmond had five fewer shots for goal than Hawthorn, it emphasised the Tigers’ ability to play percentage football and capitalise on opportunities.

Richmond kicked 16.12 – 108 to Hawthorn’s 11.22 – 88.

The match lifted Hawthorn’s morale after a series of defeats.

The Hawks prepared themselves for yesterday’s match as if it were a finals’ game and, although defeat was the end result, there was a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel.

Because of injuries to key players during the season, the Hawks were able to field closest to their strongest 20 yesterday.

And, in typical Hawthorn fashion, it hassled and nagged Richmond and got to within 14 points of the Tigers when time on begin in the final quarter.

But it was there Richmond’s class won through because it had the ability to move ahead and polish off its previous work.

Despite Hawthorn’s persistence to get within striking range the damage was done in the first quarter.

While it took Hawthorn longer than a quarter to kick its second goal, the Tigers in the same period rattled on seven.”

Match details

Richmond 4.2 8.6 12.11 16.12 (108)
Hawthorn 1.7 3.15 7.17 11.22 (88)

Goals – Richmond: Roach 5, Bartlett 4, Monteath 2, Rowlings 2, Weightman 2, Cloke.
Best – Richmond: Jess, Keane, Strachan, Bourke, Raines Cloke.

Goals – Hawthorn: Matthews 2, Paton 2, Bennett, Goss, Martello, Moncrieff, Russo, Tuck, Turner.
Best – Hawthorn: Matthews, Greene, Scott, Tuck, Goss, Russo.