1940 Chronology

Position: Second
Won 13, Lost 7, For 1962, Against 1697.
Captain: Percy Bentley Vice Captain: Jack Dyer
Coach: Percy Bentley
Best and Fairest: Jack Dyer
Leading Goal Kicker: Jack Titus (100) (VFL LGK)
Revenue: Credit Balance:
Membership: 3,517
Seconds: Sixth
Recruits U19: ___

January
Tue. __
The committee decides to delete a motion in the minutes that recommended that Percy Bentley be reappointed for the coming season. The president Barney Herbert and a section of the committee are in favour of appointing Jack Dyer coach.

Fri. 19
The Richmond Chronicle reports that Percy Bentley, annoyed by his treatment by the committee, had decided that he will not accept the coaching position if it is offered.
___ Five former players, Martin Bolger, Alan Geddes, Kevin O’Neill, Bert Foster and Tom O’Halloran, nominate for election at the coming annual meeting. They are upset by the committee’s treatment of Percy Bentley.
Barney Herbert, the incumbent president, does not nominate for re-election.

February
Wednesday 14
Percy Bentley attacks the president Barney Herbert and his committee as not being “straight forward” in a speech at the annual meeting.
Maurie Fleming easily defeats the incumbent Maurie Sheahan for the position of secretary, while Harry Dyke is elected Richmond’s new president unopposed.
The five former players running are elected.

It is reported that the Victorian Football League is creating a scheme for 50 schoolboy teams, all under 15, to play organised football in parks and paddocks from this season.
The League hopes to also increase the number of Melbourne Boys League curtain raiser games before League matches.

Tuesday 27
Richmond Seconds President Ben Alexander, in an interview with The Herald tries to hose down a report that Jack Dyer had been appointed coach of the Seconds.

Wednesday 28
A conference between representatives of the Richmond Seniors, Second 18, and junior clubs in the district is held. It is decided to approach Richmond and Melbourne Councils seeking better playing facilities and accomodation for players on junior football grounds in Richmond district.

March
Tuesday. 5
Jack Dyer asks the committee to clear him to the Cubs as playing coach or risk him going to Yarraville (VFA). Dyer is upset by the political events at Richmond and does not want to play with the first eighteen. He had signed a clearance form to Yarraville (VFA), and the Richmond Seconds had appointed him coach prior to approval of the Richmond Seniors Committee.

Saturday 9
Former player Bill Wisdom is killed in a motor accident in Adelaide.

Dan Guinane narrowly escapes injury when a tram he is travelling in collides with a car, killing the driver.

Tue. 19
Jack Dyer is refused a clearance to play with the Cubs.

Sat. 30
Bill Moore (from McKinnon) was the outstanding recruit in the club's practice match, kicking 4 goals (full forward/half forward). Other players were S. McNamee (from South Bendigo) who kicked two goals from half-forward, Heaney ('spectacular in the air'), L. Crosbie (1939 coach of Richmond Districts, aged 23, 6ft 1, 14 stone, Waldron (Richmond seconds), Spencer (Richmond seconds), Webster (Burnley), Milgate (Ormond), Crohan (Burnley). Senior players who played were Ablett, Crane, J. Symons, R. Martin, D Harris.

April
Tue. 2
Jack Dyer makes his first appearance at Richmond training this year.
Len Ablett was absent as he had 8 teeth removed. Recruits who impressed were T. Crane (Richmond Seconds, who is younger brother of Jack Crane), N. O'Halloran (from City, younger brother of Tom O'Halloran), J. Jukes (from Rushworth), F. Reilly (from Railways), L. Scott (younger brother of Jack Scott), A. Bayliss (younger brother of George Bayliss)

Sat. 6
Practice Match at 1pm. Players are Dowdell, Millard, Maguire, Davey, Perkins, Unwin, Strachan, Rowan, Fyffe, Hodges, Sleeth, Spencer, Murphy, Reilly, Grey, Leydon, McCrory, Blundell, Milgate, Gropley, Bray, Crosbie, Jennings, Crohan, Scott, Eagles, Randall, Lewis, O'Halloran, Reilly, Mair, Webster, Waldron, T. Crane, Bayliss, Cousen, Foster, Praetz, O'Toole, Heaney, Baker.

At the later practice match, Titus kicked 8 goals. Ablett, Edwards, Scott, Cotter, Harris also played. So too W. White (from Sandhurst), G. Murton (from Morwell), K. Hale (Ballarat). Players who were noted as playing well were; Quinn (Ormond), Bray (Ormond), Maguire (Terang), Crohan (Burnley), Jennings (Hamilton), Merritt (Nhill), Milgate (Heatherton), Scholfield (Coleraine), G. Sleeth, Cartwright (Birchip), Bayliss , Bates, Causon (Oakleigh). Priestley (having trained at Shepparton). Crane jarred his ankle but played on,

Mon. 8
The Richmond Football Club is one of a number of local sports clubs that send a deputation to the council’s Public Works Committee asking for better facilities at the Survey Paddock (Richmond Park).

Sat. 13
Jack Titus kicks twelve goals in an intra-club practice match. Other players who played were Cosgrove (follower/centre half back), Cartwright (full back , and ruck), Moore (centre half forward),
Milgate (Ormond) and Jennings (Hamilton) are signed by Richmond.
Richmond's training list is listed as: Regulars- Ablett, Bentley, Bawden, Bates, Broman, Cotter, Chergwin, J Crohan, Dickson, Dyer, Edwards, Harris, Hull, Leydon, Martin, McDonald, McCrory, O'Connell, O'Neill, Perkins, C Priestley, Reilly, J Scott, Smeaton, H and L Smith, Symons, Titus. Recruits- Cartwright, Cosgrove, Dunn, Dwan, Hodges, Hudgson, Jennings, Merritt, Muir, Maguire, Moore, Milgate, Murton, Roy Quinn, Randall, Russell, Spencer, Sleith, Scholfield, Strachan, Uwins, White, Waldron.

Tues 16
E. Hughes (Dumbalk) impresses at training/practice with his kicking. He is a rover/half forward.
C. Hooper, a follower who was on the supplementary list last year began training after three months in camp.
Allan Strang, the fourth of the Strang brothers, appears at training, but will train when he completes his military training.
Kevin O’Neill resigns as a committeeman to enable him to resume playing with the Tigers.
The committee agreed to provide a football to each school (in the district) and members' tickets at the discretion of the headmasters.

Thurs 18
New players at training include D. Harrower (Cohuna), J. Mcdonald (Leongatha), H. McDonald (Nagambie).
Jack Cotter injures his nose when he collides with another player.
Richmond obtain the services of Ray Steele, however Hawthorn believe he needs to obtain a residential clearance. Richmond argue that Steele resided at University and then Canterbury over the last 3 years, both which were unallotted territory.

Sat 20
Practice Match took place. Several players (Ablett, Hull, Scott, Dickson) were trialed to replace Symons who was injured (arm in cast). Ray Steel gave a 'dashing exhibition'
Other players to play were Bawden, Cartwright (who injured his knee), Edwards (strained leg muscles), Quinn (knee injured). Trophies were presented by the committee to Milgate, Cosgrove, Dwan. Bill Cosgrove, Richmond’s recruit from the Cubs, joins the Royal Australian Air Force.

Richmond's final team list is announced.
On the supplementary list are J. Leyden, J. Strachan (Richmond City), H. Dwan, L. Merrett, W. Muir, J. Spencer (Richmond seconds), W. White, B. Waldron (Richmond seconds)

Wed 24
Permits are granted for Ray Steel to Richmond, A.J Uwins to Camberwell, A McCrory to Oakleigh, D. Chergwin to South Melbourne, C Milgate (from Ormond Amateurs to Richmond),

Thr. 25
The players elect Percy Bentley captain and Jack Dyer vice captain for the season, after a dinner at the Victoria Cafe, Bridge Road.

Sat. 27
Richmond lose their first game of the season by 12 points to Footscray at Punt Road.
Dyer twists his back and is replaced during the game.

May
Sat. 4
Melbourne unfurls their 1939 premiership flag prior to defeating Richmond at the MCG.

Sat. 11
Jack Titus kicks eight goals against Hawthorn at Glenferrie. Richmond win their first game of the season.

Tue. 14
Jack Symons is disqualified by the League tribunal for four weeks for charging Hawthorn’s Harold Albiston.
___ The chairman of the umpire’s board complains that the bells used at Richmond and Collingwood are not loud enough.

Sat. 18
The Cubs defeat Geelong’s seconds for the first time.
The Richmond Recruits _ Phillips kicks seven goals against Fitzroy Juniors.

Sat. 25
Jack Titus kicked 5 of Richmond's first 7 goals , in their match against Fitzroy.

June
Sat. 1
Richmond claims top position after the Tigers defeat St. Kilda and Melbourne lose to Hawthorn.
The Cubs draw on two Richmond Recruit boys and use an injured player as the 19th man because they had trouble fielding a team. This season the Cubs are worried about filling teams because they can no longer draw on Burnley and Richmond City players to make up the numbers.

Sat. 8
Richmond defeats South Melbourne at Punt Road but Melbourne reclaims top position by percentage.

Tue. 11
Dick Harris is disqualified for two matches for unseemly conduct during the South Melbourne match, but the kicking and the striking charges also laid against him are not sustained. A charge that Jack Dyer struck South’s George Collard is also not sustained.
Sat. 15
Richmond by defeating Collingwood at Victoria Park win their sixth game in succession.

Sat. 22
Essendon defeats Richmond by 5 points at Punt Road, ending a six game winning streak. In the last minute Jack Titus, who had kicked six goals, had a easy chance to seal the game but kicked a point. Essendon then rushed the ball up the field and kicked the winning goal.

Sat. 29
Richmond claims top position, albeit by percentage, after it defeated North Melbourne at Arden Street.
Maurie O’Connell kicks eight goals for the Cubs against North Melbourne at Punt Road. (or 7, according to R. Chron 5/7/40)

July
___ The Richmond football and cricket clubs invest L900 from the Outer Grounds Improvement Fund in War Bonds.

Sat. 6
Carlton defeats Richmond by 11 points at Punt Road and the Tigers slip to fourth position.
Sir Winston Duggan, the Governor of Victoria attends the match and is made an honorary member of Richmond. He is the club’s first No.1 Member.

Sat. 20
Richmond squander a 37 point lead midway through the third quarter and lose to the ladder leaders Melbourne by seven points at Punt Road.
Richmond’s former players, including some from the VFA era, are entertained at the match.
The Richmond Recruits’ Andy Brennan kicks seven goals against Essendon (Thirds or Stars) in the curtain raiser.
Former Richmond player George Rudolph coaches the Tasmanian A.I.F. side against the Tasmanian League. Eric Zschech and Basil McCormack play for the League.
Training: Jack Dyer takes over Percy Bentley’s coaching duties because Percy is suffering from an injury

Sat. 27
Captain-coach Percy Bentley can not play due to an injury so Jack Dyer captains Richmond for the first time.
Richmond lose to Hawthorn by 8 points at Punt Road but hold on to fourth place by percentage.

August
Sat. 3
St. Kilda defeats Richmond in the Grand Final of the League’s knock-out carnival for Patriotic Funds. Each match was 20 minutes.

1st Round: Richmond 5.5.35 def Melb 0.1.1
Goals: Titus (2), Harris (1), Waldron (1), Crane (1)

2nd Round: Richmond 1.2.8 def Footscray 1.0.6
Goals: Harris (1)

3rd Round: Richmond 5.0.30 def North 2.2.14
Goals: Titus (3), Harris (1), Merrett (1)

Final: Stk 4.2.26 def Richmond 0.2.2
Best: Cotter, Symons, Harris , Merrett

Sat. 10
Richmond defeats the second placed Geelong team by 20 points at Geelong. Geelong got to within one point of the Tigers in the last term.
Jack Titus kicks eight goals.
Percy Bentley returns to the team from injury but collapses after the game.
In the evening the Cubs hold a dance and make presentations to their players and officials who have enlisted in the A.I.F. and the R.A.A.F.

Sat. 17
The third placed Richmond defeats the fourth placed Fitzroy at Punt Road. They were separated by percentage before the game but now the Tigers pull clear.
A brawl takes place in the last quarter between at least 4 players from both sides. A man in uniform jumps the fence and briefly joins the brawl before police intervene. Umpire Hawkins stops the play further down the field to break up the fight.

Sat. 24
Jack Titus kicks nine goals against St. Kilda at St. Kilda. He has now amassed 85 goals so far this season and breaks his club record of 83 goals that he set in 1935 and equalled in 1936.
Members of the Lake Tyers Aboriginal football team who had enlisted in the A.I.F. give a demonstration of boomerang throwing and gum leaf band playing at half-time of the Cubs’ match at Punt Road.

Sat. 31
Richmond secures second position on the ladder and a double chance by defeating South Melbourne at South in the last game of the regular season.
Jack Titus kicks seven goals.

September
Sat. 14
Richmond defeats Melbourne by six points in a semi final before 54,763 spectators at the MCG.

Sat. 28
Richmond lose the Grand Final. Melbourne 15-17 (107) defeats Richmond 10-8 (68) before 70,330 people at the MCG.
Jack Titus kicks three goals taking his tally to 100 for the season. He is the first Tiger to kick 100 goals in a year and the second, after George Bayliss in 1920, to be the League’s leading goal kicker.
Percy Bentley plays his 263rd. VFL game and thereby equals Vic Thorp’s record as Richmond’s most prolific player. It will be Percy’s last match.

October
Tue. 1
Percy Bentley informs the committee that he had retired as a player but he offers his services as a non-playing coach. Bentley made his senior debut with Richmond in 1925, he had captained the Tigers since 1932 and had been its playing coach since 1934.

Sun. 6
Jack Titus captains a Richmond team against the Past and Present Boxers’ Association invitational side at Olympic Park. The game is in aid of hospital and war funds.

November
Wed. 13
Jack Titus is honoured at a Richmond Football Club dance in the Town Hall in aid of the Mayor’s Patriotic Fund.

December
Wed. 11
Don Bradman scored 109 (in 73 mins) at the Richmond Cricket Ground in a charity match for the Army Physical Training Corps. Every run he scored meant 2/6 was donated to Flags for Fighters Fund. (5 companies had each agreed to 6d per run)

Wed 18
William Bennion , 1906-1907 VFA player, dies aged 59