Match Report
COLLINGWOOD v RICHMOND METHOD BEATS DASH Although Richmond has some advantage from the wind in the opening quarter of their game at Victoria Park, the home team more than held their own in scoring.
At the opening of the game Richmond were marking better than their opponents, but later on Collingwood were holding more marks in the air, and played with method. Richmond had four new man in Heath, Hislop, Rudd and Ericson.
Scoring was very accurate in the opening term, seven goals being got against three behinds, Wraith and Lee scoring goals for Collingwood in the first few minutes. Before the end of the term Hughes and Wraith added further goal, while Hislop, Rudd and Herbert scored for Richmond. At the end of a stumbling quarter Collingwood had 4 goals 3 behinds to Richmond's 3 goals.
In the second term Richmond’s score was a goal bare and Lee put on two more for Collingwood. At half-time Collingwood had 6 goals 7 behinds to Richmond's 4 goals.
The third quarter was fairly even, very little being done on either side. Lee got Collingwood's seventh, while Richmond only managed to add a behind, the score then being Collingwood 7-9 to Richmond 4-2. For the greater part of the last quarter, Richmond held the advantage against the wind, and then showed their best form. It was quite late in the term when Collingwood finally overcame them, Hughes, Lee, Curtis and Cody adding further goals. The final was - COLLINGWOOD 11 goals 11 behinds (77 points), RICHMOND 4 goals 4 behinds (28 points).
Collingwood's half-back line was the great barrier to Richmond all through. They frequently got up to that point, but not often past it. There was nothing in pace as between the two teams, but Collingwood's quickness was combined with better judgement and system, and therein was their continuous advantage.
On the winning side, Wilson roving and in a place did extremely well. Green half-back, Wraith as a forward, R. Lee (who got four goals), Brown, amongst the defenders, Reynolds back, and Cody and Drummond on the centre were prominent.
The honours in Richmond lay between Hall and Maybury, both of whom played excellent football - Hall in the earlier stages, and Maybury towards the closer. Most prominent in their defence were Thorpe, fullback, and Bettells in front of him. Reeve's work on the centre line lay mostly in foiling the other side. Cronk and Rudd were also prominent.
1917 'COLLINGWOOD v. RICHMOND.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 14 May, p. 9, viewed 13 August, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1617614
