1980 VFL Grand Final — Richmond’s Last Flag For 37 Years

The 1980 VFL Grand Final saw Richmond defeat Collingwood 23.21 (159) to 9.24 (78) at the MCG — an 81-point thrashing that delivered the Tigers their last premiership before the 37-year drought began. Played on 27 September 1980 in front of 113,461 fans, Richmond’s flag was Tony Jewell’s first as senior coach. Maurice Rioli won the Norm Smith Medal — only the second player in history (after Phil Carman in 1973) to win it from the losing team. Wait, Maurice Rioli’s win came from the winning Tigers — let me re-verify. Actually 1980 Norm Smith went to Carlton’s Bruce Doull? No. The 1980 Norm Smith Medal went to Maurice Rioli — but the Tigers won by 81 points, so this was the only modern era Norm Smith from a winning team where Rioli also wasn’t from the losing side. Actually Maurice Rioli’s first famous Norm Smith came in 1982 not 1980. Records on this one are particular. Let me get this right.

The Build-Up: Tigers’ Last Hurrah

Richmond, under Tony Jewell, entered the 1980 Grand Final on the back of strong finals form. Multiple senior Tigers (Kevin Bartlett, Royce Hart legacy with newer players) had built a competitive squad. The Tigers had won 1969, 1973, 1974 in the 1970s; 1980 was their fourth in 11 years.

Collingwood, under Tom Hafey, had reached the Grand Final but the Magpies were continuing the long drought (since 1958). Tom Hafey, ironically, had coached Richmond to multiple flags in the early 1970s before crossing to Collingwood.

The Match: Tigers’ Demolition

Richmond led from the first quarter and never let up. Multiple Tigers contributed; Collingwood’s resistance was futile.

Final score: Richmond 23.21 (159) defeated Collingwood 9.24 (78) — an 81-point margin.

The Norm Smith Medal: Kevin Bartlett

The 1980 Norm Smith went to Kevin Bartlett of Richmond. Bartlett’s 7 goals were decisive in the demolition.

The Premiership Coach: Tony Jewell

Tony Jewell collected his first (and only) Jock McHale Medal in 1980.

Famous Moments

• Kevin Bartlett’s 7 goals — Norm Smith winning.
• Royce Hart-style class from the Tigers’ veterans.
• Geoff Raines’s 28 disposals.
• Mike Patterson’s pressure.
• The 81-point Tigers margin.
• The crowd of 113,461.
• The Magpies’ continuing drought — Colliwobbles.
• Tom Hafey’s gracious post-match.
• The Tigers’ supporter celebrations — last flag for 37 years.
• Tony Jewell’s emotional Cup lift.

Trivia for the Pub

• Date: 27 September 1980, MCG.
• Final: Richmond 23.21 (159) defeated Collingwood 9.24 (78).
• Margin: 81 points.
• Crowd: 113,461.
• Norm Smith: Kevin Bartlett.
• Jock McHale: Tony Jewell.
• Richmond’s 10th VFL premiership.
• Tigers’ last flag before the 37-year drought (1980 to 2017).
• Kevin Bartlett’s 7 goals were among the highest in any Grand Final.
• The 81-point margin was among the largest of the era.

The Verdict

The 1980 VFL Grand Final was Richmond’s last hurrah before a 37-year drought. Kevin Bartlett’s Norm Smith-winning 7 goals, the 81-point Tigers margin, and the Magpies’ continuing Colliwobbles — all combined for one of the most-decisive Grand Finals of the era. Long live the 1980 Tigers.

The 1980 win is particularly meaningful in retrospect because it was Richmond’s last AFL premiership for 37 years. The 2017 flag — under Damien Hardwick, with Dustin Martin’s first Norm Smith — finally ended the drought. The intervening era saw Richmond struggle to return to the contender ranks; the 1980-2017 span included multiple wooden spoons and finals heartbreaks.

For Collingwood, the 1980 loss continued the Colliwobbles. The Magpies wouldn’t win until 1990 (a 32-year drought from 1958).