Historical information

GO THE PUNCH, SHEAHAN, YA LEGEND!!!

MAURIE SHEAHAN, 121-game Tiger fullback and member of the “Three Musketeers” Defensive Line, tries to punch the ball, preventing Gordon “Nuts” Coventry from marking and scoring another of his eight goals for the afternoon! In his 17th season, “Nuts” was giving a by now familiar hands-on demonstration of why, 87 years later, the Coventry name should be forever emblazoned behind the Northern goal of Docklands Stadium. Another Musketeer, Richmond’s 12-season, 209-game Life Member, tough KEVIN O’NEILL (left), waits hopefully for any crumbs. DANNY GUINAINE, a rugged Tigers utility player who played 10 seasons and 110 games, is also on the scene.

Maurie’s son John played 17 games, and Danny’s son Paddy played 146 games at Punt Road in the 1960s, proving again that Tiger blood will always be thicker than water.

Featured in "Newsworthy: Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936" exhibition at East Melbourne Library, October to December 2023. Exhibition caption by project volunteer, Ernie Ward.

Photographer notations on slide: "Richmond v Collingwood football B107"
Collingwood v Richmond at Victoria Park 9 May 1936
Attendance: 25,000-30,000 (capacity); Weather: fine with a light breeze from north to south

Collingwood had unfurled their 10th Premiership Flag before the game, and also officially opened their fancy new members only club rooms. After the game, the new rooms were to host a soirée on a polished dance floor larger than the one at Collingwood Town Hall (by invitation - members only).

Collingwood had beaten Richmond easily in the previous year’s Preliminary Final. Both teams had come off a good Round One victory. The Sporting Press – and, since betting on football was illegal, the SP Bookies – had Richmond as slight favourites. The scene was set for one of the “games of the season”. But, alas, it was not to be.

The Magpies ambushed the Tigers from the very first bounce. The Tigers won most of the aerial battles, but the ‘Pies’ small men dominated all over the ground. Collingwood had kicked eight goals straight by quarter-time. By half-time, they had 14 goals and only two behinds. In his 17th season, legendary full forward GORDON “NUTS” COVENTRY (1901-1968) had bagged seven majors by the long break, scoring an eight before the full-time bell. The contest was over by half-time.

The Tigers reportedly battled out the second half as the travelling Tiger Army and the Sporting Press had come to expect! But that’s easy to say when a six-goal flogging is also a 36-point drubbing – especially when it’s the hated Collingwood FC handing out the punishment.

After the game, Richmond FC were in for a “good hard look at themselves” (this is known as a “rebuild” in 2023), and missed out playing Finals for the first time since 1926. Collingwood were right on their usual track and would go on to win the 1936 Premiership. The normal order of things was restored! Collingwood 16.12.108 defeated Richmond 10.12.72.

Physical description

Glass plate negative

Inscriptions & markings

Photographer notations on slide: "Richmond v Collingwood football B107"