The day the Tigers roared back to September action
1:43 PM Thu 13 September, 2007
Tony Greenberg
for richmondfc.com.au
It was 40 years ago this week that Richmond launched what was to become the most successful era of finals football in its history.
Under the coaching guidance of former back pocket player Tommy Hafey, the Tigers finished the 1967 home-and-away season on top of the ladder, two points ahead of Carlton.
So, it was to be Richmond v traditional rival Carlton in the second semi-final of ’67, with the prize being automatic entry into the Grand Final for the winner.
This was Richmond’s first finals appearance since the 1947 first semi-final loss to Fitzroy.
None of the 20 Tiger players who ran out on to the MCG for the big clash with the Blues had any league football finals experience – but it mattered not a jot . . .
With rookie star Royce Hart leading the way up forward with a brilliant six-goal display, the Tigers powered away from the Blues to record a convincing 40-point win.
And, two weeks later, Richmond savored the sweet taste of premiership success for the first time since 1943, when it defeated Geelong by nine points in a classic Grand Final encounter.
From that second semi of ’67, through to the 1980 Grand Final massacre of Collingwood, the Tigers played in a total of 25 finals. They won 19, drew one and lost just five. Included in those 19 victories, of course, were five premierships!
It was a stunning run of September success – and it all started that early spring Saturday afternoon in ’67 which, incidentally (and most unfortunately) also happened to be the last game of league football that champion Richmond ruckman Neville Crowe played.
The triple Tiger Best and Fairest winner and former captain was reported on a charge of striking his Carlton counterpart John Nicholls and subsequently suspended for four matches, which meant he missed the Club’s drought-breaking premiership win a fortnight later.
Clearly, had video evidence been allowed back in those days, the charge against ‘Crowey’ would have been dismissed in about 30 seconds – and ‘Big Nick’ would have been nominated for a Gold Logie!
Anyway, 40 years on, here’s how the ’67 second semi was dissected in the football media of the day.
First-up, is a match review written by ‘Footy Week’ editor Harry Beitzel, under the heading: “CHAMPAGNE FOOTBALL BY TIGERS”
“Richmond completely outclassed Carlton and provided champagne football for a record second semi-final crowd of 99,051 fans.
All of Richmond’s star-studded line-up played up to their reputations in their 40-point victory.
Carlton had no answer to the brilliance of the Richmond team.
As fast as Carlton captain-coach Ron Barassi patched up a weakness in his side several Richmond players would reveal another few.
Through the game the Blues had four full-backs, four centremen, four centre half-forwards and four full-forwards. That’s TROUBLE in large lumps.
It was a case of the club with the best offence (Richmond) playing the club with the best defence (Carlton).
And it was the Tigers’ forwards – brilliantly led by Guinane and Hart – that came out on top.
These two were the architects of most of the side’s moves up to half-time, though Hart was curbed a bit in the second half by Goold.
Guinane and Hart constantly interchanged in the positions of centre half-forward and full-forward. This gave their opponents a torrid time, but it seemed risky and unnecessary to shift the brilliant Royce Hart.
At the spearhead Hart was lively and damaging, whether the ball was high or on the ground.
Paddy Guinane was also playing well at centre half-forward.
The game started badly for the Blues when full-forward Hart chalked up two goals in the opening two minutes.
Carlton leveled the score after eight minutes with goals from Gallagher on the run and a magnificent kick from Barassi at centre half-forward.
The ball had only travelled eight yards, but umpire Sheales paid the mark.
This great goal should have settled Barassi, who was very toey before the game.
But the champion was like a fractious blue-blood and over-anxiousness was evident in his play to half-time.
Barassi caused a sensation before the start of the match when he led his team out about 10 minutes early.
He called for four balls and gave his side circle work to get them warmed up.
However, the moment umpire Peter Sheales stepped on to the arena he ordered the practice balls off.
Carlton will have to pay a fine for breaking the VFL’s domestic ruling on pre-match use of footballs.
Perhaps the Blues were anticipating this, for all the balls went back in the bag – not out into the crowd for souvenirs.
The Blues’ biggest gamble in playing Wes Lofts exploded with disastrous results.
Big Wes misjudged his first attempt to punch the ball clear of young Royce Hart. The kid marked and goaled within 50 seconds of the bounce.
Lofts’ fitness had been in doubt throughout the week and it certainly looked as though a thumb injury was handicapping him.
Barassi had to move the State full-back into the forward line half-way through the second quarter and after half-time Lofts did not resume.
Richmond won because in the first half it played powerhouse football.
Twice the Tigers got a break on Carlton but the tenacious Blues fought back to level the scores. Seven minutes into the second quarter Carlton was in front.
But the effort sapped a lot of energy and sting.
The reconstructed backline was breaking up and Richmond took the ball away from the packs.
Carlton were slower to the ball and were outmarked.
Barrot, after a quiet start, thrashed Gordon Collis and wingmen Clay and Bourke were winning.
Barassi made a supreme effort to lift his team in the third quarter.
Richmond was put under the hammer and came back at their opponents, giving away many foolish frees.
Luckily Northey was paid a lucky free and his wobbly kick was strongly marked by Hart.
This was the most important goal of the match. It was Hart’s fifth and Richmond’s 12th. And it gave the Tigers the break of 21 points. The team never looked in danger from this point.
Carlton’s experienced players in Nicholls, Barassi, Silvagni and Goold tried hard all day, but received little support.
The Tigers’ backline was well served by Swift at full-back and Burgin, Perry and Strang, and no Carlton forward outplayed his marksmen all day.
Most of the Blues’ goals came from the resting ruckmen and rovers.
Quirk fought back to finish slightly in front of Clay – a good performance, while Cliff Stewart never gave in on Bourke.
Carlton – on this performance – are going to have plenty of headaches defeating Geelong, who play much the same brand of football as Richmond.
The Blues are without a key forward, and on Saturday their defence cracked under the avalanche of opportunities provided by the dashing half-backs, Barrot and their rucks.
Gallagher gathered many kicks in the first half, Munari was dangerous around the half-forward line, but still too many of Nicholls’ knock-downs were sharked by Richmond.”
GOOD VALUE
Richmond: Barrot, Burgin, Hart, Strang, Barry Richardson, Patterson, Swift, Perry, Crowe, A. Richardson, Guinane, Bourke, Brown.
Carlton: Nicholls, Goold, Munari, Barassi, Quirk, Silvagni, Kerr, Gallagher.
MATCH DETAILS
Richmond 5.8 10.13 14.16 20.21 (141)
Carlton 3.4 7.9 11.12 14.17 (101)
Goals – Richmond: Hart 6, Patterson 3, Brown 3, Guinane 2, Northey 2, B. Richardson 2, Barrot, Bartlett.
Carlton: Nicholls 3, Munari 3, Kekovich 2, Jesaulenko 2, Barassi 2, Silvagni, Gallagher.
Crowd: 99,051 (a record for a second semi-final).
Reported: N. Crowe (Richmond) reported by boundary umpire Fitzgerald on a charge of having deliberately struck J. Nicholls (Carlton) with a clenched fist during the third quarter.
RICHMOND MATCH STATS
Roger Dean: 8 kicks, 1 handball, 6 marks
Fred Swift: 10 kicks, 0 handballs, 6 marks
Tony Jewell: 10 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks
Graham Burgin: 16 kicks, 2 handballs, 7 marks
Mike Perry: 10 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks
Geoff Strang: 13 kicks, 1 handball, 6 marks
Francis Bourke: 15 kicks, 4 handballs, 2 marks
Bill Barrot: 23 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks
Dick Clay: 11 kicks, 4 handballs, 5 marks
John Northey: 11 kicks, 3 handballs, 1 mark
Paddy Guinane: 11 kicks, 2 handballs, 8 marks
Barry Richardson: 16 kicks, 1 handball, 6 marks
Mike Patterson: 12 kicks, 0 handballs, 6 marks
Royce Hart: 11 kicks, 1 handball, 7 marks
Billy Brown: 16 kicks, 3 handballs, 3 marks
Neville Crowe: 8 kicks, 3 handballs, 6 marks
Alan Richardson: 12 kicks, 7 handballs, 6 marks
Kevin Bartlett: 17 kicks, 1 handball, 4 marks
John Perry (19th man): 3 kicks, 0 handballs, 0 marks
Kevin Shinners (20th man): 1 kick, 0 handballs, 0 marks
Total: 234 kicks, 39 handballs, 91 marks
