1967 VFL Grand Final

The 1967 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and Richmond Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 23 September 1967. It was the 71st annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1967 VFL season. The match, attended by 109,396 spectators, was won by Richmond by a margin of 9 points, marking that club's sixth premiership victory.

Background

It was Richmond's first Grand Final since it lost the 1944 VFL Grand Final. The Cats were making their first appearance since 1963.

Teams

Match summary

First Quarter

The game began at a fast and furious pace. Geelong attacked from the first bounce, but it took six minutes before Gordon Hynes registered the first score - a behind. Shortly after, John Sharrock kicked the first goal of the match after taking a courageous mark.^[1] Geelong continued to attack and Doug Wade missed after marking close to goal. Richmond’s first goal came after John Ronaldson, replacing the suspended Neville Crowe, was awarded a free kick in the forward pocket. Ronaldson's kick went off the side of his boot, but Royce Hart anticipated well to take an easy chest mark and goal.^[1] The Cats replied quickly through Bill Goggin, who roved the ball off a pack at top pace and drop-kicked a superb goal. Richmond fought back with goals to Alan “Bull” Richardson and Bill Brown, both from free kicks. Tempers started to flare as defender Graham Burgin repelled two Geelong attacks, the second time with a fine mark. Bill Barrot had started well and was driving Richmond into attack with long, penetrating kicks.^[1] Score at quarter time: Richmond 4 3 27 to Geelong 3 3 21

Third Quarter

The score at half time was Richmond 9 10 64 to Geelong 7 6 48. Geelong came out firing in the third quarter and quickly erased the half-time deficit. Goggin goaled shortly after play restarted, and then Gareth Andrews then followed with a long goal, which seemed to swing back at the last moment. The Cats hit the front when Wade kicked truly from the boundary after receiving a free kick. Geelong was playing excellent football as Farmer palmed the ball to Goggin, who in turn passed to the dangerous Sharrock.^[1] Two rushed behinds gave Richmond the lead as the siren sounded for three-quarter time. Three quarter time score: Richmond 12 15 87 to Geelong 13 7 85.

Fourth Quarter

Geelong had their chances in the final quarter but were inaccurate, scoring eight behinds. The lead changed several times in the quarter. At the 18 minute mark with Geelong holding a 6 point lead, John Ronaldson marked about 60 yards out on the flank and slotted an unlikely goal leveling the scores. Geelong scored a point followed by Richmond a few minutes later and at the 23 minute mark the scores were level again. Ronaldson, kicking from 55 yards on the opposite flank scored a goal at the 25 minute mark followed by Kevin Bartlett goaling at the 28 minute mark sealing the game. The closing minutes played at a furious pace by both teams despite the tiredness of the players including a defensive captains' mark by Fred Swift (playing in his last VFL game) on the Geelong goal-line,

Post-match reactions and epilogue

Victorious premiership captain Fred Swift said:

It's the biggest thrill of my life. It really makes it worth while playing football after today's win. It was close, and at times I thought we might not win. But every player pulled his weight and I have never felt so happy. I'll never forget the thrill of running around ground holding the premiership cup. It's a thing you dream about - but today it came true.^[2]

Geelong captain Graham Farmer was gracious in defeat:

Our mistakes - free kicks, a couple of fumbles and miskicks - cost us the game. We looked like winning for most of the game, but we did not kick straight enough. Richmond was fortunate to get a goal in the final minutes. Richmond's win was good for football. Premierships are made to go around.^[2]

For Richmond, it was the start of a great era under Tom Hafey, who would guide the club to three further flags in 1969, 1973 and 1974.

Geelong would have to wait 22 years before competing in their next Grand Final.

Match details

See also

• Fred Swift
• 1967 VFL season

References

Bibliography

• The Official statistical history of the AFL 2004
• Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897-1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. ISBN 0-670-86814-0