Royce Hart 1973 preliminary final
Paul Daffey
September 23, 2006
NEWSPAPERS pulled out their biggest type for the headlines announcing the teams before the 1973 preliminary between Richmond and Collingwood.
Not only was Collingwood full-forward Peter McKenna unavailable with a mystery illness, to be replaced by a 16-year-old from Ararat in his first game, Rene Kink, but Richmond captain and centre half-forward Royce Hart had been ruled unavailable because of a knee injury. McKenna later said he was not ill; the selectors had dropped him. "It's been a tough year for full-forwards," he explained to The Age.
Hart's problem was more clear-cut. After tearing a knee cartilage against St Kilda at Waverley Park in round 15, he missed the next four games. His training consisted solely of gym work to strengthen the muscles around his left knee. His return to the team peaked in the qualifying final against Carlton, when he kicked five goals and was named the best player in Richmond's losing team.
Hart played again the following week against St Kilda in the first semi-final, kicking two goals and finishing among the Tigers' best. His knee was drained of fluid on the Monday and he continued limping until the Wednesday.
A picture on the back page of The Age on the Friday showed Hart deep in discussion with a club medico as well as general manager Graeme Richmond during training at Punt Road Oval (the next day there was a picture of Kink studying Chinese history at Melbourne High School, where he was in year 11).
Hart said that, if he rested the knee for a week, he would be able to play against Carlton should Richmond make it to the grand final. The Tigers brought into the team Francis Bourke, who was returning from a knee injury, and Noel Carter, an 18-year-old rover from Tasmania's Ulverstone for his first full senior game. Four were named on the reserves bench: Roger Dean, Bill Nalder, Daryl Cumming and Craig McKellar. Two of those four were to be selected. When the Tigers jogged onto the MCG, McKellar was in their number but the other three who had been named as reserves were missing. Hart was a late inclusion. The captain spent the first half on the bench as the Magpies shot to a six-goal lead at half-time.
During the break, there was a meeting in a small room between Hart, Richmond coach Tom Hafey and club doctor Bill Grainger. Hart recalled this week from his home south of Hobart that Graeme Richmond, who was known as the Tigers' powerbroker, was pushing for him to go on to the ground.
When the club doctor said Hart might not play in the grand final if he played in the second half, Richmond said the Tigers would not make the grand final if Hart didn't play in the second half. Hafey supported Richmond. Robert Lamb was taken off and Hart began the third quarter of the preliminary final at centre half-forward.
A quick goal from his raking left foot brought the almost capacity crowd to its feet. Richmond players were sparked into action. Hart kicked another goal and was going for a third, from about 30 metres out, when he faltered.
"My knee gave out when I went to kick it," he said. "The ball only went 20 metres."
But he continued to be the main influence on the ground. According to the match report, he eclipsed his opponent, Lee Adamson, while providing direction that had been missing in the first half. Full-forward Neil Balme marked strongly and kicked five goals.
Hart said this week the Tigers' game plan of kicking long always gave them a chance in finals; this was especially so in this era against Collingwood, which was more indirect. The Tigers overhauled the Magpies late in the game and were leading by a point with 40 seconds left. Richmond rover Kevin Bartlett then snapped the goal that gave the Tigers a rousing victory by seven points.
Their momentum continued through to the grand final, in which Hart played the full game and kicked three goals. "It didn't matter if I broke down," he said.
After Richmond's victory by 30 points, Hart stepped onto the dais to raise the premiership cup. Soon afterwards, he had surgery to repair his torn cartilage. The knee gave trouble again the following season, in 1974, but Hart played in another premiership team before having another operation.
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/09/22/1158431902792.html
Paul Daffey
September 23, 2006
NEWSPAPERS pulled out their biggest type for the headlines announcing the teams before the 1973 preliminary between Richmond and Collingwood.
Not only was Collingwood full-forward Peter McKenna unavailable with a mystery illness, to be replaced by a 16-year-old from Ararat in his first game, Rene Kink, but Richmond captain and centre half-forward Royce Hart had been ruled unavailable because of a knee injury. McKenna later said he was not ill; the selectors had dropped him. "It's been a tough year for full-forwards," he explained to The Age.
Hart's problem was more clear-cut. After tearing a knee cartilage against St Kilda at Waverley Park in round 15, he missed the next four games. His training consisted solely of gym work to strengthen the muscles around his left knee. His return to the team peaked in the qualifying final against Carlton, when he kicked five goals and was named the best player in Richmond's losing team.
Hart played again the following week against St Kilda in the first semi-final, kicking two goals and finishing among the Tigers' best. His knee was drained of fluid on the Monday and he continued limping until the Wednesday.
A picture on the back page of The Age on the Friday showed Hart deep in discussion with a club medico as well as general manager Graeme Richmond during training at Punt Road Oval (the next day there was a picture of Kink studying Chinese history at Melbourne High School, where he was in year 11).
Hart said that, if he rested the knee for a week, he would be able to play against Carlton should Richmond make it to the grand final. The Tigers brought into the team Francis Bourke, who was returning from a knee injury, and Noel Carter, an 18-year-old rover from Tasmania's Ulverstone for his first full senior game. Four were named on the reserves bench: Roger Dean, Bill Nalder, Daryl Cumming and Craig McKellar. Two of those four were to be selected. When the Tigers jogged onto the MCG, McKellar was in their number but the other three who had been named as reserves were missing. Hart was a late inclusion. The captain spent the first half on the bench as the Magpies shot to a six-goal lead at half-time.
During the break, there was a meeting in a small room between Hart, Richmond coach Tom Hafey and club doctor Bill Grainger. Hart recalled this week from his home south of Hobart that Graeme Richmond, who was known as the Tigers' powerbroker, was pushing for him to go on to the ground.
When the club doctor said Hart might not play in the grand final if he played in the second half, Richmond said the Tigers would not make the grand final if Hart didn't play in the second half. Hafey supported Richmond. Robert Lamb was taken off and Hart began the third quarter of the preliminary final at centre half-forward.
A quick goal from his raking left foot brought the almost capacity crowd to its feet. Richmond players were sparked into action. Hart kicked another goal and was going for a third, from about 30 metres out, when he faltered.
"My knee gave out when I went to kick it," he said. "The ball only went 20 metres."
But he continued to be the main influence on the ground. According to the match report, he eclipsed his opponent, Lee Adamson, while providing direction that had been missing in the first half. Full-forward Neil Balme marked strongly and kicked five goals.
Hart said this week the Tigers' game plan of kicking long always gave them a chance in finals; this was especially so in this era against Collingwood, which was more indirect. The Tigers overhauled the Magpies late in the game and were leading by a point with 40 seconds left. Richmond rover Kevin Bartlett then snapped the goal that gave the Tigers a rousing victory by seven points.
Their momentum continued through to the grand final, in which Hart played the full game and kicked three goals. "It didn't matter if I broke down," he said.
After Richmond's victory by 30 points, Hart stepped onto the dais to raise the premiership cup. Soon afterwards, he had surgery to repair his torn cartilage. The knee gave trouble again the following season, in 1974, but Hart played in another premiership team before having another operation.
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/09/22/1158431902792.html
