May 18, 1918 was a momentous day in Richmond’s history . . .

On that late autumn Saturday afternoon, the Tigers notched their first-ever league football win against Carlton – at the 25^th attempt!

It had taken Richmond 10 years to accomplish the feat, with the Blues having won the first 24 matches between the teams, since the Tigers entered the then Victorian Football League in 1908.

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During that decade-long drought, the closest Richmond had come to beating Carlton was in Round 9, 1914, when it went down by just two points.  On five other occasions, the Tigers had lost to the Blues by a goal or less.  

In Round 2 of the 1918 season, however, Richmond finally broke the ice, scoring a thrilling five-point victory in a tight, low-scoring, encounter at Carlton’s Princes Park home ground – 7.16 (58) to 8.5 (53).

Here’s how ‘The Argus’ newspaper of May 20, 1918 reported the Tigers’ historic win . . .

 “For the first time in their history Richmond beat Carlton on Saturday.  The match was especially interesting in the closing stages when interest worked up to fever heat.  It was only the generally fine play of Richmond’s backs, headed by (Vic) Thorp, which prevented the game ending in the usual way.  Taking it all through, it was slightly in favour of Richmond, some of who goal kicking could only put up behinds, though (George) Bayliss was in this respect a marked exception, and he was largely responsible for winning the game.  Generally, the first quarter was in favour of Richmond, who finished 3.3 to Carlton’s 1.1, and at half-time Richmond had 5.5 to Carlton’s 3.3.  Before the last change Carlton were within a few points of their opponents, and they kept pressing until the points were equal, the three-quarter result being Richmond 5.11, Carlton 6.5.  The last quarter however, was largely in favour of Richmond, who were quicker on the ball, though their short play was not nearly so clean as Carlton’s, and with only ten minutes to go they were 17 points ahead.  In the closing ten minutes Carlton played up well, kicked two goals, but were still short by a few points when time was up.  It was a fine finish . . .

Bayliss was unquestionably the most prominent man for Richmond, and scored five goals for them.  (Barney) Herbert did a lot of first-rate work in the ruck.  Thorp set a very fine lead to his side in defence.  (Clarrie) Hall all through roved in first-rate style, and (Donald) Don is the same department was frequently prominent.”

Eight players from the Richmond side that day went on to be members of the Club’s first league premiership in 1920 – Thorp, Herbert, Hall, Don, Max Hislop, Reg Hede, Jimmy Smith and Robert Weatherill.  Spearhead star Bayliss missed the Tigers’ 1920 Grand Final win against Collingwood, but was leading goalkicker, with two, in the low-scoring 1921 premiership triumph over Carlton.

Round 2, 1918 match details

Richmond            3.3          5.5          5.11        7.16  (58)

Carlton                 1.1          3.3          6.5          8.5  (53)

Goals – Richmond:  Bayliss 5, McCulloch, R. Weatherill.

Best – Richmond:  Bayliss, Thorp, Herbert, Hall, Don.