Almanac Footy: A case of ‘deja vu’ for the Tigers

A team of Tiger debutants thrashed the Blues in Round 1 of an earlier generation.

 

Like all Tigers supporters, I am indulging myself in a feeling of bliss after the young Tigers’ overcame the Blues on Thursday night. Then, this morning, I suddenly recalled a time almost 50 years ago, when in Round 1 of the 1978 season on the MCG, a Tiger team full of debutants unexpectedly thrashed Carlton by 77 points. I was at the MCG that day, a spritely teenager, with, of course, my late father.

 

It was a Richmond team that combined a core of ‘immortal’ players who had been part of the Tigers successful era from 1967 to 1974 – Bartlett, Bourke, Balme, Cloke, Keane Sheedy, Walsh, and Wood. Also, Eric Leech, a talented defender, who had been constantly beset by injuries during his senior career, 1970 to 1979. It also had a handful of developing players who’d debuted in 1975: Bruce Monteath, Allan Edwards, Noel Jenkinson – and in 1976 – Geoff Raines, Jimmy Jess and Ken Stonehouse. Another who had come over in 1976, a young and rugged back pocket who wasn’t getting a fair go at the Saints – yes – Micky Malthouse. However, the team also had a handful of recruits playing their debuts: Dale Weightman, Glenn Dickson, John Einsiedel, and Greg Strachan. Mark Lee, who had played just two games in Rounds 18 and 19 of 1977 rounded out the youngsters.

 

If I remember correctly, the Tiges lined up as follows:

B: Sheedy (c), Jenkinson, Leech

HB: Strachan, Bourke, Keane

C: Wood, Walsh, Raines

HF: Dickson, Cloke, Monteath

F: Balme, Edwards, Weightman

R: Lee, Einsiedel, Bartlett

Res: Jess, Stonehouse

Coach: Barry Richardson

 

As good Tigers, we would always snigger at playing Carlton, because we all knew, if we hit them hard early, physically that is, they would fold. We’d smirk at ‘Mother’ Walls, who was always whinging that he’d been hit in the back of the head. And, ‘Mary’ Maclure, who couldn’t get off the ground and was a regular step-ladder to those taking ‘speckies’. Maclure would later have the distinction of starting at CHF in three premiership Carlton sides, and having to be be moved away from CHF for Carlton to win each of those games. First 1979, when he was shifted so that David McKay could turn the game at CHF. 1981, again with McKay moving to CHF. And, again in 1982, when Maclure was replaced by Carlton captain, Mike Fitzpatrick at CHF. (As a Tiger, we always frown at that one.)

 

From the start of the 1978 game, it was all Richmond. I kind of remember Dale Weightman kicking a goal with his first kick. It was a lovely late summer’s day, although it was the first day of April. By quarter time, the Tigers already led by 16 points, 5.7 to 3.3. By half time, we stretched the lead to 34 points, 12.11 to 7.7. What’s more, the Tiges didn’t let up. By three quarter time, the lead was 44 points, 18.13 to 11.11. Richmond didn’t slow down and kicked seven goals and 11 behinds in the last quarter. The game finished with the Tigers running off 77 point winners, 25.24 to 14.13.

 

For the game, Tiger goals were from: Cloke 7, Edwards 7, Monteath 4, Edwards 3, Bartlett, Dickson, Raines, Walsh 1.

 

Outstanding stats were: Bartlett 29; Wayne Walsh 26; David Cloke 24 and 13 marks; Einsedel, Raines and Wood 22 each.

 

As an aftermath, that was the highlight of the season, with the Tigers in third place on the ladder after the round. The Tiges did make it back into the top four in Round 16, but slipped out again. At season’s end, Tiger head ‘honcho’ Graeme Richmond decided that the boys needed to play a more physical style, and he replaced the stylishly, fashionably-dressed Barry Richardson as coach with ex-Tiger and then rugged Caulfield (VFA) captain-coach Tony Jewel. More young debutants followed through 1978 and 1979, with a buy-in of midfielders from other clubs: Rob Wiley, Barry Rowlings, Denis Collins, and Peter Welsh, among others.

 

Of course, in 1980, the Tiges went on to run away with the premiership. Our last premiership until our grand run of three in four years (2017 to 2020).

 

Note: Many thanks to AFL Tables, who turned a collection of vague memories into a worthy, factual story – https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/031419780401.html

 

 

 

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