Last Thursday night’s 2020 season re-opener between Richmond and Collingwood was only the second time these fierce traditional league football rivals had played a drawn match. It was more than a century ago that the first Tigers v Magpies draw occurred – Round 6, 1917 at Punt Road Oval. Here is a review of that clash which appeared in ‘The Age’ newspaper . . .

“The ground was in a very soft condition at Richmond, where the home team met Collingwood. The attendance was large. Hall was out of the local side through an injury.

In the opening term Richmond handled the greasy ball with more precision than their opponents, and for a considerable portion of the quarter had matters pretty well their own way.

Herbert punted the first goal after negotiating a fine mark – the forerunner of quite a number of “sky scrapers” he took during the day.

Fehring kicked both the second and third goals, one following a particularly clever mark, and the other from a snap.

Collingwood’s first goal came shortly after the opening of the second quarter. Hughes passed to Laxton, who raised the two flags from an easy punt.

Even play followed for some time, during which Reeves was specially prominent on Richmond’s defensive lines.

R. Lee topped up some dodging with a well judged goal. Collingwood were holding the ball with more certainty, and in view of the state of the ground the hand passing on both sides was surprisingly good.

Collingwood were attacking most of the quarter and evened up the score, but toward the close Richmond broke away, Herbert again putting his side in front with a goal.

There was some exhilarating play after the interval, each team putting much vim into its work.

Richmond were doing brilliant things at times, but Collingwood showed more reliability, especially when defending.

Reynolds and Lee scored the maximum for them during this term, and Don for the yellow and black.

Entering the last quarter with a leeway of six points to overhaul, Richmond attacked spiritedly, and after a behind was signalled Herbert put his side ahead again with a goal.

The ball travelled from one end of the ground to the other, first one side and then the other gaining the lead by the minimum margin.

With four minutes to go Lee scored the sixth goal for Collingwood, and the result seemed beyond doubt, but Richmond rallied in the last moment, and Keggin securing from Hede, levelled the scores with a neat place shot.

Collingwood, who hit the post twice during the match, were attacking when the bell sounded.

The players mostly in evidence for Richmond were Reeves, Herbert, Taylor, Fehring, Don, Rudd, Haybury and Alessio; whilst Collingwood’s most prominent men were Hughes, Laxton, Sadler, Dobrigh, Pannam, Brown, Wilson and R. Lee.”

Match details

Richmond         3.1       4.2       5.6       7.8 (50)
Collingwood     0.4       2.8       5.12     6.14 (50)

Goals – Richmond: Herbert 3, Fehring 2, Don, Keggin.

Goals – Collingwood: Lee 3, Curtis, Dobrigh, Laxton.