I was enjoying this game when I realised it was 20 years ago and one day ago. This is a stirring finish where the Tigers who dominated the second half just manage to stay in front of the Crows at Footy Park. Matt Rogers is fantastic, Justin Murphy shows some great hands and Mark Neeld pops up to kick one of his 33 career goals.
You may remember the 1994 round-ball World Cup which was on at this time. Colombia were eliminated, and Andres Escobar was shot dead on his return home, for scoring an own goal. There is a chilling banner waved at the end of this game; saying CORNES FOR COLUMBIA with a smoking gun. And apparently sponsored by SA-FM, nice. Cornes as a high-leaping key forward was one of the stars of one of our earlier clips. Cornes saw out the season but was replaced by Robert Shaw.
In 1994 the Tigers won 12 games and finished in the spot they have made their own, 9th. But they were on the way up from 4 wins in 1993, heading for 15 wins and a preliminary final in 1995. Of course after that they finished 9th, 12th, 9th, 13th and 9th in the next five years.
Thanks Chris-
Mark Neeld played for Richmond?! Yikes.
Here is a documentary on the Colombian team of 1994 and the events afterwards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd5amEEVLgk
The guy on the left of screen giving a wave, next to the Cornes banner is the famed Malcolm ‘Rulebook’ Ashwood who these days has Cornes on speed dial.