| Venue: M.C.G. | Date: Saturday September 17, 1927 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Loss by 6 points | Umpire: | Crowd: 63,620 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: T.Downs 4, H.Clover 3, H.Vallence 2, C.Davey 1, H.Carter 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best: M.Beasy, T.Downs, A.Duncan, D.Kelleher, F.Donoghue, T.Brewis, H.Clover, L.Johnson. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Injuries: | |||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
There was a lot of ill-feeling between the two sides in the lead-up to this game, because of the events of a fortnight earlier in round 17. On that hectic Saturday afternoon, no fewer than five players had been knocked unconscious, and two members of each team had been reported by the field umpire.Richmond started well, and with the benefit of the wind, kicked four goals to two to open up a handy 13-point lead at quarter time. But Carlton responded, and their long and direct football in the second quarter overhauled the Tigers by seven points at the long break. The football was fast and entertaining, with no sign at all of the expected fireworks.
Richmond copied the Blues strategy in the third term, using long kicking to keep play in their forward half, and bringing the ball to ground for their small men to pounce. The Tigers were back in front by 9 points at the final break, before Blues champion ’Soapy’ Vallence kicked the opening two goals of the final term. Suddenly, Carlton were travelling like winners. Rover Doug Hayes goaled for Richmond, but his counterpart Tommy Downs replied immediately to put Carlton back in the lead.
However, with ten minutes or so remaining, the wind dropped. Carlton seemed to panic somewhat and started to mess around with the football by kicking short to a contest. Richmond didn’t, and grew in confidence. They stuck to their game plan, and scores were level with just a minute remaining. Then the big men clashed in a ruck contest at centre half-back for Carlton, and the ball was punched out wide to Tiger flanker Harry Weidner. He steadied, and launched a long drop-kick that speared between the posts to make him an instant hero, and to give Richmond a remarkable victory.
Team
| B: | 20 Ted Brewis | 33 Jim Watson | 10 Denis Kelleher |
| HB: | 18 Frank Donoghue | 32 Alex Duncan | 6 Fred Gilby |
| C: | 7 Joe Kelly | 31 Jimmy Goonan | 30 Vin Arthur |
| HF: | 29 Maurie Connell | 1 Horrie Clover (cc) | 8 Hedley Blackmore |
| F: | 22 Harry Vallence | 17 Charlie Davey | 25 Harold Carter (vc) |
| Ruck: | 11 Maurie Beasy | 5 Les Johnson | 28 Tommy Downs |
| Coach: | Horrie Clover | ||
Milestones
100 VFL Games: Harold CarterLast Game: Hedley Blackmore, Jimmy Goonan
Round 18 | 1928