1915 Chronology

Position: Sixth
Won 5, Lost 11, For 906, Against 1164.
Captain: William Thomas
Vice Captains: William Mahoney, Percy Maybury
Coach: Charlie Ricketts
Leading Goal Kicker: Clarrie Hall (25)
Revenue: L1179 4s. 10d. Credit Balance: L29 5s. 7d.
Membership: 2,708

February

Thur 4
Harry Layton, who played in Richmond's first ever VFA game in 1885, dies aged 49.
(His brother Charles played one game with him in June 6 1885)

March
Wed. March 10
Richmond holds its annual meeting at the Richmond Cricket Ground for the first time since 1897. The new grandstand is lit by electric lamps and it is packed to capacity. The evening ends with the screening of Biograph Pictures, and the singing of 'God Save The King'

April
Wed. April 7
At the Richmond District Junior FA annual meeting William Maybury states that he is pleased that 36, or 24%, of the competition’s players had enlisted.
The Westralian League refuses to clear star player Norman McIntosh to Richmond.

Sat 17
Richmond play Beverley in a practice match at the RCG

Sat. April 24
Ted Ohlson becomes the second player to play 100 VFL games for Richmond.
Richmond supporter J. Johnson is so pleased that the Tigers were leading Melbourne at half time that he invites several players to a Moet and gave other players monetary gifts. Richmond ultimately loses the match.
Supporter T. Davies from Coppin Street complains to the police that he was struck by a Melbourne player. The Melbourne player says he was struck by Davies in the crowd, and called a foul name, and as a result struck him back.
Photo from the match

Sun. 25
Anzacs storm the beaches at Gallipoli. Richmond player Frank Twomey takes part in the landing.

May
Sat. 8
Richmond defeats South Melbourne at the Punt-road ground by two points. “Checker” Hughes kicks the winning goal with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Richmond’s president Frank Tudor visits South’s room at half time and is received with three cheers.
Hughie James plays his 100th VFL game for Richmond.

In late May George Gibson is shot through his left lung at Gallipoli.

Sat. 29
The Richmond branch of the Red Cross collects donations in aid of a local fund from spectators at the Richmond v Fitzroy game at RCG.
Fitzroy manage to hold onto a six point win despite Richmond kicking 4-5 (29) to Fitzroy’s 0-3 (3) in the last quarter.

June
Sat. 5
An inaccurate St. Kilda 5-20 (50) defeat Richmond 7-6 (48) by just two points at the RCG.

Wed. 9
Arthur Bettles is disqualified for the remainder of the season for striking Fitzroy’s George King.
The Richmond District Junior FA decides to abandon the 1915 competition owing to the withdrawal of three clubs and the lack of a response to violence at games. The Association’s secretary and the treasurer resign.

Thr. 17
William Mahoney, Richmond’s vice captain and a member of the selection committee, omits himself from the team to play Essendon on account of his poor form.
___ The Richmond Cricket Club decides to admit all soldiers in training to the ground free of charge.

July
___ William Mahoney resigns the vice captaincy due to his poor form. He is replaced by Percy Maybury.

Sun. 4
The finance committee meets and decides to further cut player payments by half (payments were already reduced by one third).

Tue. 6
An independent tribunal of three Richmond Football Club committeemen investigate several charges of rough play in the Richmond District Junior FA. It is hoped the junior competition will recommence on Saturday.

Tue. 20
Richmond players agree to accept no payment for further services this year.

Wed. 21
Richmond, Collingwood, Carlton and Fitzroy vote against the curtailment of the season. Without a three fourths majority of clubs in favour of curtailment the League season continues.

Sat. 31
Fitzroy’s Jimmy Freake kicks ten goals against Richmond at Fitzroy. Freake is the first player to kick ten or more goals against Richmond in League football, and the first since Albert Thurgood in 1893 (Association).
The Richmond Guardian reports that Charlie Ricketts is making a Honor Board inscribed with the names of Richmond personalities who enlist in the armed forces.

August
Tue. 3
Bill Nolan joins the army training camp at Seymour.

Sat. 7
Richmond players are so lacking in enthusiasm that officials waited until the Tigers gathered in St. Kilda’s pavilion before picking the team.
The Punt-road ground hosts the Metropolitan Amateur FA Final. Collingwood Districts defeats Leopold. It is a rough game and Leopold’s captain, Tommy Hughes jumps the fence and chases a spectator after he was called “... a most objectionable name.”

Thr. 12
Arthur “Darko” Danks enlists. The day earlier he received a letter from George Gibson who wrote of his war experiences while convalescing in Alexandria, Egypt.

Sat. 21
Vic Thorp plays his 100th VFL game for Richmond.
Richmond finishes the season in sixth position. It is the highest ranking the club has achieved at the top level of football since it placed fifth in 1888.

Sun. 22
Following the last game of the season Richmond’s skipper, William “Son” Thomas invites his team mates to his beach bungalow in Aspendale.

September
Sat. 18
On Grand Final evening the Richmond Football Club gives a send-off to seven of its soldiers, Bill Nolan, Frank Hughes, Jack Sheehan, Arthur Danks, Harry Maynard, Bill Marshall and Jack McDonald. George Gibson, who returned home during the week, attends.

Tue. 21
At the Richmond Cricket Club’s annual meeting, and before football club officials William Maybury and William Lohse, the cricket club’s president Ted Cotter accuses the Richmond Football Club of “... not doing enough in regard to the liabilities incurred by the cricket club in building the new stand.”

Sat. 25
Privates Arthur Danks and Jack Sheehan are representatives in the Soldiers’ team that plays against Carlton, the League’s premiers. Corporal Bill Nolan, who intended to play, was absent. 1887 Richmond VFA player Alexander Salton goal umpires.

October
Fri. 1
Richmond’s recruiting district is enlarged with the addition of the shires of Doncaster and Dandenong, as well as the Richmond Cricket Ground.

Tue. 12
Owing to large gates at the football finals Richmond has an unexpected credit balance. The committee decides that sixty pounds of the surplus will be divided amongst the players.