Semi Final, 1940
Richmond vs Melbourne
Saturday 14 September
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 54,763
1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
Richmond | 4.3 | 9.7 | 13.8 | 16.11.107 |
Melbourne | 4.4 | 6.8 | 11.17 | 14.17.101 |
Richmond win by 6 points
Goalkickers: Ron Baggott 4, Keith Truscott 4, Jack Mueller 2, Percy Beames 1, Roy Dowsing 1, Maurie Gibb 1, Norm Smith 1
Milestones:
Nil
Melbourne had beaten the Tigers both home and away during the season and went in confident. They kicked the first two goals in the first two minutes, but were also wasteful with Harold Ball missing a goal from two metres out. A Richmond player fumbled the ball running into an open goal, and other hit the post (though the Tigers capitalised on a poor-kick in to goal). Jack Mueller got a goal from an errant handball by Tiger strongman Jack Dyer, but their dual became farcical in the second quarter when they stood guarding each other for 20 minutes in the second quarter rather than trying to join in the play.
Richmond went to town in the second term and racked up a lead of nearly three goals near half-time when Norm Smith - who had kicked 1.4 to that point - was collected heavily by Dyer. Without their focal point Melbourne were never able to recover. Smith attempted to play on but collapsed in the changerooms at half-time and was taken to hospital.
Smith's replacement Keith Truscott was hurt early in the third term, and both Roy Dowsing and Ron Baggott suffered injuries which limited them. All three players also received their injuries from Tigers hard man Jack Dyer and his 'rugged' way of playing the game.
The Demons had survived having to use three full-backs by the five minute mark of the third quarter, Baxter had replaced Lock then had to play forward after being knocked out.
17 points in front at half time against the walking wounded Richmond could have walked away with the match, but Melbourne struck back. Truscott, despite his injury, launched wave after wave of Demon attacks while Jack Mueller rotated between the ruck and centre-half forward and overwhelmed the Tigers. Truscott would kick four goals in the second half. Mueller was the only one of Dyer's opponents throughout the day not to end up injured.
Early in the quarter the Demons were 35 down but they had staged a revival to drag themselves back to just three points behind. After that, though, they ran out of gas. The injury toll didn't help, but Richmond's backs held firm on almost every attacked launched at them.
The Tigers held on to win and book a trip straight to the Grand Final, while Melbourne were forced to take their long injury list into the Preliminary Final. Only a goal after the siren cut the gap to six points.
Best were Gibb, Ball, Mueller and Emselle. Keith Truscott replaced Norm Smith at half time, Smith was taken to Prince Henry's Hospital for observation with a severe concussion and not released until 8pm that night.
Media
Argus - 11/09/1940
Herald - 11/09/1940
Sporting Globe - 11/09/1940
Argus - 13/09/1940
Herald - 13/09/1940
Age - 13/09/1940
Age - 14/09/1940
Argus - 14/09/1940
Sporting Globe - 14/09/1940
Age - 16/09/1940
Argus - 16/09/1940
Sporting Globe - 18/09/1940
Advocate - 19/09/1940
Sporting Globe - 21/09/1940
Weekly Times - 21/09/1940
Australasian - 21/09/1940
Football Record 1940 Finals