In the very early 1980s, the Richmond and Port Adelaide Footballs Clubs gave footy fans a version of a dream match.
At the time, Port were in the midst of an historic three-peat as SANFL Premiers, whilst the Tigers were coming off their 1980 VFL Premiership.
Matching up the best SA had to offer against the premiers of the VFL was an enticing prospect, and in the pre-season of 1981, the clubs made it happen, with Richmond overcoming their interstate rivals by a solitary point.
Fast forward 12 months, and we had a similar scenario.
Port capped their three-peat with the 1981 flag, but the Tigers fell away to finish outside the finals.
A revival was on the cards for the Tigers, as the Magpies looked to start their campaign for a fourth-straight flag in 1982.
What unfolded that day at Alberton was a wonderful display of footy, with stars strutting their stuff, and plenty of passion in each and every contest, despite it being “just a practice match”.
There are games where things seem to be worth just a little more.
This was one of them.
So settle back, relax, whack on your seatbelt and get ready, as The Mongrel punches in the coordinates and the flux capacitor does its thing, and we re-live the clash between Port and Richmond prior to the 1982 season.
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Oh… you thought the Mongrel coverage ended with the final siren of the GF? No, no, no… HB works year-round, and he works for our members. He believes work such as this is worth a mere pittance per day. If you don’t, that’s fine. You’re welcome to join and keep reading if you do.
