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 Age’ football writer Trevor Grant’s review of Richmond’s Round 17 match of the ’80 season against Geelong at the MCG, which took place on Saturday, July 26 before a crowd of 70,068.
“There were convincing signs that we had entered a new era in football even before the players had laced up their boots for Saturday’s most significant VFL match.
Firstly, a Carlton-North Melbourne encounter had been displaced from the day’s top billing for the first time in years, distinguished supporters from both Richmond and Geelong did away with their pride and queued for a seat at the 250-strong presidential lunch (some even paid), and the usually-deserted top tier of the MCG’s Northern Stand had that overflowing finals look about it.
The groundsmen and the weather had also played a main part to prime the 70,000 fans into a finals mood. But what of the most important aspect, the BIG game?
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Would it flop? Would we leave, deflated and wondering why we got so worked up over a couple of deceivers? It was easy to conjure such thoughts when you looked at the relatively uninspiring performances of these two teams in the past few seasons.
You can be sure, though, that the metamorphosis is complete. Geelong, the victor, has a strong, durable quality to its already-recognised skill. Richmond, the loser, showed that even when its leading players all put in poor performances it can still keep fighting.
There is no question that we saw two teams deserving of a Grand Final place this year. But it would be wrong to assume that because the Cats won by 17 points it gives them favouritism over the Tigers.
In the first half they slugged it out toe-to-toe. The ball moved quickly between ends but there were not the bagfulls of goals you would expect from two highly-skilled teams on the first dry ground they had come across for weeks. It was simply too tight.
The break came, as it usually does in such tough matches, in the third quarter. Geelong kicked six goals, Richmond managed three, and from there the Cats kept their noses in front.
Geelong appeared to have three times as many leading contributors as Richmond. In one way, these are not unfavourable statistics for Richmond, especially when you consider the winning margin.
Did we see a case of the Cats extending themselves to their limit while the Tigers have so much more to offer?
Of course, this assertion might well have the tanks rumbling up the Geelong highway. Those born within a 30-kilometre radius of Kardinia Park are second only to West Australians in extracting maximum enjoyment from whipping Melbourne clubs.
They believe they are about to return to the days of the 50s and 60s when they did such things regularly. They are also both mindful, and resentful, of those people who have not given what they believe to be fair credit for the side’s performance this year.
Let it be said that Geelong displayed the grace and grit that wins premierships.
The defence conquered the strongest forward line in the League. Full-back Gary Malarkey kept Michael Roach to four goals from a lot of chances, Paul Jeffreys, backed up by Jack Hawkins beat both David Cloke and Jim Jess at centre half-forward and back pocket Ian Nankervis gave the resting rovers no chance.
Malarkey, in particular, ruined Richmond’s chances. A wise old head, he “conned” Roach into grappling with him for the ball in the square.
Further down the ground there were plenty willing to carry on the good work, such as winger Michael Turner and clever ruck rover David Clarke.
Turner is going to be the object of plenty of discussion by opposition coaches and selectors in the finals. On Saturday he destroyed Bryan Wood and then Dennis Collins.
Apart from losing its normal power on the wings, the Tigers were also down on output in the battle for the ball in the air.
Richmond selectors were happy with main ruckman Mark Lee, who had been playing poorly lately. But he is still a good way from his best.
His opponent, Rod Blake, was far more creative and effective in the knock-out and marking duels.
Blake’s marvellous form this year epitomises the surprising Geelong rise. Suddenly, so many players who have been at the club for a number of years, are displaying application and skills which weren’t evident under former coach Rod Olsson.
It is an accepted axiom in football that players make premiership coaches. Could we see this reversed by first-year coach Goggin?”
Match details
Richmond 3.3 7.7 10.11 13.15 (93)
Geelong 3.3 7.5 13.9 16.14 (110)
Goals – Richmond: Roach 4, Monteath 3, Bartlett 2, Sarah 2, Cloke, Bottams.
Best – Richmond: Monteath, Wiley, Bartlett, Bourke, Malthouse.
Goals – Geelong: Bright 4, Clarke 4, Matthews 2, Mossop 2, Johnston, Turner, Floyd, Lunn.
Best – Geelong: Malarkey, Turner, Blake, Bright, Clarke, B. Nankervis.
