Round 1, 1988
Richmond vs Melbourne
Monday 4 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 34,824
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Richmond | 2.0 | 7.4 | 10.9 | 16.12.108 |
| Melbourne | 8.3 | 15.4 | 19.9 | 23.16.154 |
Melbourne win by 46 points
Goalkickers: Tony Campbell 7, Garry Lyon 4, Simon Eishold 3, Ricky Jackson 2, Steven O'Dwyer 1, Jim Stynes 2, Bret Bailey 1, Warren Dean 1, Greg Healy 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Jim Stynes
2 - Graeme Yeats
1 - Steven O'Dwyer
Milestones:
Last Game
Paul Payne
The Demons destroyed Kevin Bartlett's return to Richmond as coach as the biggest crowd of round one saw the big improvers of 1987 thrash the previous year's wooden spooners.
Despite Bartlett's return it didn't take long for Tigers fans to become restless, giving their team bronx cheers just two minutes into the match. It was no wonder the crowd were getting upset with their side twice conceding free kicks for having too many men inside the centre square. Melbourne quickly turned both opportunities into goals, by the fifteen minute mark it was five to nil and already looking like a long season for the Richmond faithful.
A disorganised Tiger backline didn't know who was on who and Garry Lyon and Steve O'Dwyer both roamed free without an opponent for much of the first quarter. By the time the Tigers got around to saving the match it was too late for a comeback but at least they won the last quarter.
Best were Stynes, O'Dwyer and Stretch.
Video
Reserves
Melbourne 26.23.179 d. Richmond 12.20.92
Goals - Fidge 7, Johnson 4, Kennedy 3, Sparks 3, Viney 3, Koop 2, Stoney 2, Lovell 1, Rennie 1
Best - Sparks, Viney, Graham
Under 19s
Richmond 21.14.140 d. Melbourne 17.13.115
Goals - Taglieri 4, Byrns 3, Power 3, Lethlean 3, Kiepert 1, Johnstone 1, Herbel 1, Beveridge 1
Best - Hawkins, Power, Kiepert
Media
Football Record R2 1988
Age - 05/04/1988