Richmond Football Club

The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League.

The Richmond Footbal Club was officially formed at the Royal Hotel, Richmond, on the 20th of February 1885. The club had a ready made home ground at Punt Road, just across from the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Punt Road Oval was where, since 1856, the Richmond cricket team had been playing its home matches.

At first the team wore a blue uniform. One of the most important features of a nineteenth century footballer's uniform was his headgear, and when Richmond wore yellow and black striped caps the Tiger nickname quickly followed (although the team was also referred to as the Wasps for a time). Before long, yellow and black replaced blue as the colours of the team's jumpers as well.

Richmond won two VFA premierships, in 1902 and 1905. After an injury-ridden 1907 season which saw them finish 3rd place in the VFA, the Richmond committee decided to make an official approach for admission to the Victorian Football League. The timing couldn't have been more perfect, the VFL had itself decided that the competition was in need of expansion. Richmond were granted admission along with the now defunct University.

The first few seasons in the VFL were less than spectacular. In 1916, the side played in the finals for the first time, however, with the ravages of war having reduced the competition to just 4 clubs, finals qualification was automatic. In season 1919, the Tigers made their first Grand Final appearance. losing to arch rivals Collingwood. For the second year in a row, Richmond and Collingwood contested the 1920 Grand Final, with the Tigers gaining revenge and their first flag in the big league. In 1921, Richmond defeated Carlton to win the club's second VFL premiership.

The next VFL flag came in 1932, with the Tigers triumph over Carlton in a tough encounter which saw Richmond wingman Allan Geddes play the second half with a broken jaw. Another Tigers premiership came in 1934, this time against South Melbourne. In 1935 Richmond contested another Grand Final, only to lose to 'old foe' Collingwood.

In 1943 Richmond beat Essendon in the Grand Final which, due to the war, was played at Princes Park.

1966 heralded the start of the Tom Hafey era, one that would see the club winning four premierships under his leadership. They won the 1967 flag in a thrilling encounter with Geelong, ending a 24 year premiership drought. In 1969, it became two in three years as Richmond, who had finished fourth on the ladder, beat the much fancied Carlton in the grand final by 25 points.

The Tigers were dominant in 1972 and were hot favorites in the Grand Final against Carlton. However the Blues stunned the Tigers in a game of ridiculous high scoring. Even Richmond equalled the then record highest score in a Grand Final of 22.18(150), but Carlton beat it with 28.9(177). The Tigers got their revenge in an intensely physical clash in the 1973 Grand Final and went back-to-back in 1974 with a strong win against a resurgent North Melbourne.

Richmond won its last premiership with a then record-breaking margin of 81 points over arch-rivals Collingwood in 1980. After reaching and losing the 1982 Grand Final, it's been a rocky road for the Tigers who have struggled to come to grips with the rules and regulations of a modernized AFL. Rare wooden spoons came in 1987, 1989 and 2004.

Just prior to the 2005 season, Richmond appointed Terry Wallace as coach. Wallace played for Hawthorn and Footscray with a season at Richmond (1987) squeezed in between. He was a successful coach at the unfashionable Footscray and with a high turnover of players, much is expected of the Tigers in the coming years.

Richmond wear a black jumper with a yellow sash, black shorts, and yellow and black hooped socks.

The 2005 Club Captain is Kane Johnson.

Club Records

Premierships: 1920, 1921, 1932, 1934, 1943, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1980

Brownlow Medal Winners: Judkins, S (1930), Morris, W. (1948), Wright, R (1952, 1954), Stewart, I. (1971),

Biggest Home & Away Crowd: 92,436 (R4 1977 vs Collingwood MCG)

Games Record Holder: Kevin Bartlett 403 (1965-1983)

Most Games as Coach: Tom Hafey 248 (1966-1976)

Most Club Awards: Jack Dyer (6) 1932,1937,1938,1939,1940,1946

see also: Jack Dyer, Kevin Bartlett, Matthew Richardson

Team of the Century

Backs:	Kevin Sheedy	Vic Thorp	Michael Green
Half Backs:	Basil McCormack	Gordon Strang	Mervyn Keane
Centres:	Francis Bourke	Bill Barrot	Dick Clay
Half Forwards:	Matthew Richardson	Royce Hart	Roger Dean
Forwards:	Dale Weightman	Jack Titus	Bill Morris
Followers:	Roy Wright	Jack Dyer	Kevin Bartlett
Interchange:	Des Rowe	Geoff Raines	Ian Stewart
	Matthew Knights
Coach:	Tom Hafey

External link

• Official Website of the Richmond Football Club (http://www.richmondfc.com.au/)

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