One of the more memorable, controversial Richmond v St Kilda matches, in my time of Tiger barracking, took place in Round 19, 1981 at the Saints’ Moorabbin ground.

It was a vintage Melbourne wintry day - driving rain, strong winds, and bitterly cold.
Richmond, the reigning premier team of the VFL competition (as it was known in those days) went into the game in sixth position, just outside the then top five, with an 11-7 record, while St Kilda was languishing in 10th place, with only four wins.

Adding to the intrigue of this late-season contest was the fact that the league’s 32 senior umpires, sensationally, had gone on strike for the round.

As a result, the league was forced to replace their seasoned men in white (as they still were back then) with young umpires, who normally officiated in the under 19s and country competitions.

In the opening term, the Tigers kicked with the aid of the wind, which was blowing straight down the ground, and by quarter-time had established a 33-point lead.
 It was a different story altogether in the second quarter, however, with the home side piling on 6.7 and keeping the visitors scoreless, to take a 10-point advantage into the long break.

The match became an arm wrestle in the third term, with Richmond managing just 2.4 to St Kilda’s one point.

At three-quarter time, the Tigers were staring right down the barrel.  They led by only five points and had to kick into a wind in the final term that was worth at least five goals.

St Kilda looked home for all money, but Tiger stars such as Kevin Bartlett, Geoff Raines, Jimmy Jess and Bruce Tempany, along with former Geelong goalsneak, Paul Sarah, had other ideas.

Richmond summoned up a supreme effort and, with just seconds to go, the scores were level.

Enter teenage field umpire, Glen McKeeman, controlling his first VFL match . . .
McKeeman paid a free kick against St Kilda’s Michael Nettlefold, (nowadays the Saints’ CEO), for an illegal tackle, 15 metres from Richmond’s goal.

Paul Sarah, who had kicked four goals to that stage, was awarded the free kick, as the final siren sounded.

To the delight of the Tiger Army, who had braved the elements, Sarah kicked truly, to chalk up his fifth goal, and a stirring Richmond victory.

Match details
Richmond    5.4    5.4    7.8    10.11  (71)
St Kilda        0.1    6.8    6.9    9.11  (65)
Goals - Richmond:  Sarah 5, Bartlett 2, Lee, Roach, Tempany.
Best - Richmond:  Jess, Sarah, Bartlett, Raines, Smith, Tempany.