1929 Chronology
Position: Second
Won 14, Drew 1, Lost 6, For 1973, Against 1630.
Captain: Cyril Lilburne Vice Captain: Basil McCormack
Coach: Frank “Checker” Hughes
Best and Fairest: Jack Titus
Leading Goal Kicker: Jack Titus (54)
Revenue: L4940 14s. 11d. Credit Balance: L585 0s. 0d.
Membership: 3,909
Seconds: Premiers
January
Tour:
Richmond makes plans to play exhibition matches in Brisbane or Sydney against Collingwood during July.
February
Sun. 3
Richmond footballers are at the RCG to take part in the filming of Australian Lovers, a prologue for the United Artists production of The Two Lovers. Basil McCormack plays the role of Jim Dwyer who wins the love of his sweetheart by kicking the winning goal, after the final bell, in a Grand Final.
Tue. 11
William Maybury donates the match ball from the 1920 Grand Final to the club. Vic Thorp and Ernie Taylor donate their premiership caps.
Fri. 15
Despite opposition from Richmond, Collingwood and Carlton the League decides to increase the price of membership tickets to 8s. . The extra moneys are intended to go towards the VFL purchasing their own building.
March
Tour:
The proposed trip of Collingwood and Richmond to Brisbane is called off because Collingwood can not finance the trip.
Tue. 5
Richmond decides that disqualified players will not receive any payment during their term of suspension.
A VFL sub-committee presents a new district scheme to the League. Richmond’s proposed district is to include the municipalities of Richmond, Malvern and Caulfield.
April
Tue. 9
George “Mallee” Johnson hands over the silver cup that he had promised to donate to the club. It will be awarded to Richmond’s fairest and best player with the opposing captains awarding a vote after each game.
Tue. 23
Donald Don, who had recently announced his retirement is presented with twelve guineas for his twelve years service.
Harry Dyke suggests that the Richmond District club have a representative sit on the Cub’s board and to “... endeavour to have these two clubs working together.”
George Rudolph transfers to the VFA club Oakleigh without a clearance from Richmond or the League. He is banned from playing VFL football for three years.
Sat. 27
Prior to Richmond’s opening game at Victoria Park Collingwood unveils their 1928 premiership pennant.
Collingwood kicks thirteen goals straight against Richmond before recording their first behind early in the last quarter. The Magpies’ final score is 15-2 (92).
May
Sat. 4
Richmond wear black (rather than blue) shorts at home for the first time since it entered the League.
Sat. 11
Richmond wins a League game at the Essendon Recreation Reserve for the first time since Essendon moved there for the 1922 season.
Richmond’s Jack McCormack kicks seven goals.
Mon. 20
Richmond hosts a conference with the Cubs and the Richmond District club in the pavilion. They discuss areas of mutual benefit, but finality was not reached on the main item, the interchange of players between the two junior clubs.
Tue. 21
The committee resolves that young boys are to be kept out of the committee and training rooms on Saturdays and when used by the club.
Sat. 25
Richmond adds 8-9 (57) in the second quarter against Hawthorn at Punt-road. It is a club record score for a quarter.
June
Sat. 1
The seconds’ vice captain Jim “Spriggy” Doran is chaired from the ground having kicked nine of the Cubs’ twelve goals.
Tue. 4
The committee decides to donate five guineas to the family of former player Ned Richardson who had passed on recently.
The New South Wales League’s proposal to play the July 20 Richmond v. Collingwood game in Sydney was to be discussed by the Richmond committee until they discovered Collingwood had already turned it down.
Sat. 8
Basil McCormack and Jack Titus represent Victoria against South Australia at the MCG.
“Dooley” Lilburne and Jack Fincher represent Victoria against New South Wales in Sydney. “Dooley” vice captains this team. Les Gallagher and Bill Benton play for a VFL team against Bendigo in Bendigo.
Thr. 13
Richmond players and officials meet at the Victoria Cafe on Bridge Road after training. “Checker” Hughes”, amongst other speakers, delivers a hour and a quarter long critique of the players.
Sat. 15
Joe Edney, a popular entertainer and frequent visitor to the club rooms, is killed in a motor accident.
Ernest John "Jack' Fayle dies after a lengthy illness, aged 50. Assistant Secretary, General Committee - he was awarded Life membership in 1925
Tue. 18
George Rudolph reacquaints himself with his old team mates at Richmond training.
Sat. 22
Richmond’s first quarter score of 9-4 (58) against Fitzroy at Fitzroy is a new club record score for a quarter.
Allan Geddes returns to the senior team having served his eight match suspension.
July
Sat. 6
Basil McCormack and Jack Titus represent Victoria against Western Australia in Perth. They will represent the state against Western Australia again on July 9.
Prior to taking the field the Victorians will call out Richmond’s “eat ’em alive” war cry. This practice will continue for the other games on the tour.
Sat. 13
Basil McCormack and Jack Titus represent Victoria against South Australia in Adelaide.
Thr. 18
The charge against Richmond’s Stan Ryan of elbowing St. Kilda’s Jack Shelton is dismissed.
Sat. 20
Richmond is defeated at Punt-road for the first time since July 30, 1927, after seventeen straight wins. Collingwood, who defeated the Tigers today, was also the last visiting club to win at the ground.
Tue. 30
The committee resolves to thank former Richmond player Herbert Morton for donating a marble clock to the club. It was awarded to him by Richmond president George Bennett in the 1880s.
August
Sat. 3
Richmond and Essendon draw at Punt-road 10-14 (74) apiece. Jack McCormack had a chance to win the game as the bell rang but the distance and the wind beat him.
Sat. 10
Dave Lynch kicks eight goals for Richmond’s second eighteen.
The wrestler Joe Pesek, the Nebraska tiger, volunteers to be a Richmond mascot. His seconds at ringside wear Richmond jumpers. He wears a Richmond guernsey under his dressing gown.
Tue. 13
The committee decides not to make a post season trip to Sydney, upon hearing an estimate of the cost and a statement on the club’s present financial position.
Sat. 17
The Cubs’ score of 25-14 (164) against Hawthorn’s seconds is a new club record (all grades/competitions).
Dave Lynch kicks eleven goals for Richmond’s second eighteen equalling the Cubs’ record.
Mon. 26 The Cubs’ minutes states that Harry Hewett is to report to the committee on “the player Dyer”. It is probably the earliest written reference to Jack Dyer in connection with the club.
September
Mon. 2
Henry Harrison, who in 1861 captained the first Richmond Football Club, dies at the age of 93.
Wed. 4
St. Kilda coach George Sparrow tells Lou Roberts that he is “sorry he ever left Richmond”.
Sat. 14
Richmond defeats Collingwood in the semi final at the MCG. It is the Magpies’ first loss this season and it also ends their twenty game winning streak.
Richmond’s score, 18-15 (123) is the highest score kicked in a VFL finals match.
Thr. 19
Basil McCormack is disqualified for eight weeks for striking Collingwood’s George Clayden.
Sat. 21
Richmond defeats Carlton by six points in the Final. Carlton looked to be winners when they were thirteen points up well into the last quarter, but Richmond rallied with goals to Harry Weidner, Maurie Hunter, and Jack Titus.
Prior to the game Barney Herbert invited the Tigers to try on his 1921 premiership cap.
Thr. 26
The Cubs 12-8 (80) defeat Geelong 7-15 (57), before a Show Day crowd of 6,544, to win Richmond’s first second eighteen premiership.
The largest crowd ever to attend a Richmond training session watches the Tigers go through their paces.
Don Harris is cleared of striking Carlton’s Tommy Downs but he is “reprimanded” for unseemly conduct. Downs is disqualified for the 1930 season for striking Harris.
_ Eleven Collingwood players receive death threat letters prior to its Grand Final against Richmond. Collingwood officials will choose to withhold the letters from the players until after the game.
Saturday 28
Collingwood 11-13 (79) defeats Richmond 7-8 (50) for the third successive year in a Final/Grand Final.
Monday 30
To celebrate the Richmond Reserves winning their first premiership, the players were entertained at the Melbourne Hotel.
October
Wed. 9
Jack Fincher, who was voted the most popular player by the Cinema Theatre’s patrons, is presented with a silver cup.
Friday 1
The Richmond Reserves make their 'annual' trip to Daylesford.
Sat. 19 J
Jack Archer hosts a smoke social to celebrate the Cubs’ premiership and the Tigers’ second placing.
Charlie Wells, who played in Richmond's first VFL game in 1908, dies aged 37
His father, William, played in Richmond's first VFA game in 1885.
His son, Billy, would play for Richmond in 1936-37
Tue. 29
A day popularly known as “Black Tuesday”. The United States’ stock market collapses and this leads to the global economic depression of the 1930s.
Richmond’s committee, burdened with funds, decides to retrospectively give each player a ten shilling bonus per match. Over L200 will be distributed.