OPINION: Back to 1972
by: Paul Gough
Sportal
It was 1972 and it was also the last time two clubs squared off in the AFL, then the VFL, while still winless in the middle of the season.
And Melbourne and Richmond are just three weeks away from equalling that unwanted slice of history this season.
The two teams are scheduled to meet in round 12 at the MCG in the showpiece Friday night game during the second half of the split round.
And while both sides could well win a game before that meeting it seems unlikely.
The Demons in particular face a tough road with MCG matches against the high-flying Kangaroos and Adelaide to come before their annual Queen's Birthday showdown against Collingwood, prior to the clash against the Tigers.
Richmond's run is slightly easier because they have home games against two teams outside the eight over the next fortnight in Essendon and Brisbane but they will still be rank outsiders to win either game before facing Fremantle in Perth prior to meeting the Demons.
While neither club would dare look that far ahead yet, the Demons-Tigers clash in round 12 is already shaping up as the ultimate 'mockbuster'.
The last time two teams were winless after eight rounds of the season was 1991 - Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears - and they were still both winless after nine rounds before Fitzroy shocked Geelong in round 10.
Which brings us back to 1972.
That year the Cats and the Kangaroos were still winless after ten rounds of the season and they met on the Queen's Birthday Monday in round 11 at VFL Park.
And in what shapes as an omen for the Tigers and Demons in four rounds time, the result of that match had a huge impact on the club's fates for the rest of that season.
The Kangaroos would win only one game for the season in finishing last while the Cats' fortunes would recover that season with the club going on to win another six games in finishing 10th.
But ironically it was the Roos who would eventually emerge the stronger with their revival beginning the following year under supercoach Ron Barassi - culminating in their first flag three years later - while the Cats would continue to struggle throughout the 70s and even today are still searching for that long-awaited first flag since 1963.
Full article at:
http://www.sportal.com.au/football.asp?i=news&id=99040