Sunshine, grapes, oranges, and Richmond footballers . . .

That’s what Sunraysia – an area of north-western Victoria and south-western New South Wales – is best known for.

The main centre of the Sunraysia region is the town of Mildura, where Richmond’s AFLW team will play an historic home game against Greater Western Sydney in Round 9 of the upcoming women’s season.

It will take place at the Mildura Sporting Precinct on Sunday, October 23.

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said that the Club was delighted to be able to play for premiership points in Mildura.

“Mildura has a rich and ongoing history with Richmond, having produced some of our very best men’s and women’s players, including Dale Weightman, Matthew Knights, Mark Lee and AFLW forward Courtney Wakefield,” he said.

“Off the field, the Sunraysia region also holds great significance to our Club, with our Aligned Leisure and Richmond Institute businesses operating as a part of the community and our Korin Gamadji Institute’s REAL Healthy Program engaging Indigenous youth in the area.

“We are pleased to be playing our part in bringing this marquee event to the people of Mildura, and we look forward to seeing a bumper crowd at the fantastic new facility for the game.”

In the old days of VFL country zoning, Richmond was assigned Sunraysia, and it proved quite a fertile breeding ground for Tiger talent.

The Tigers recruited players who would go on to become members of premiership sides, Team of the Century members, Hall of Fame inductees, Jack Dyer Medallists and Club captains.

Here’s how the team of Sunraysia Tigers stacks up . . .  

Backline

Jeff Berry (Red Cliffs), 1978-79, 10 games, 0 goals

Noel Jenkinson (Red Cliffs), 1975-79, 57 games, 0 goals

Phillip Bottams (Mildura Imperials), 1978-81, 26 games, 4 goals

Half-back line

Brendan Bower (Mildura), 1986-91, 92 games, 19 goals

Brian Winton (Wentworth), 1983, 10 games, 4 goals

Matt Dea (Mildura Imperials), 2010-2015, 31 games, 1 goal

Centreline

Nathan Bower (Mildura), 1991-98, 74 games, 22 goals

Matthew Knights (Merbein/Mildura Imperials), 1988-02, 279 games, 141 goals

Bruce Tschirpig (Wentworth), 1971 & 1976, 10 games, 12 goals

Half-forward line

Phil Egan (Robinvale), 1982-89, 125 games, 117 goals

Allan Edwards (Robinvale), 62 games, 83 goals, 1975-78

Geoff Martin (Mildura), 1981 & 1983, 6 games, 3 goals

Forward line

Daryl Cumming (South Mildura), 1971-76, 88 games, 62 goals

Kevin Curran (Robinvale), 1943-45, 16 games, 28 goals

Greg Hamilton (Red Cliffs), 1988-90 & 1992, 29 games, 19 goals

Followers

Mark Lee (Mildura), 1977-91, 233 games, 94 goals

Greg Hollick (Irymple), 1970-72, 38 games, 20 goals

Dale Weightman (Mildura Imperials), 1978-93, 274 games, 344 goals

Interchange (from)

Darren Bower (Mildura), 1987, 3 games, 2 goals

Pat Curran (Robinvale), 1968, 1 game, 0 goals

Ken McGown (Irymple), 1954-56, 13 games, 0 goals

Sean Bowden (Mildura Imperials), 1990-91, 6 games, 0 goals

Keith Smythe (Merbein), 1968-70, 16 games, 8 goals

Sunraysia Richmond premiership players: Daryl Cumming (1974), Mark Lee (1980), Dale Weightman (1980).

Sunraysia Richmond Best and Fairest winners: Mark Lee (1984), Dale Weightman (1986, 1987), Matthew Knights (1990, 1992).

Sunraysia Richmond captains: Mark Lee (1985-1987), Dale Weightman (1988-1992), Matthew Knights (1997-2000).

Sunraysia Richmond Hall of Fame inductees: Mark Lee, Dale Weightman, Matthew Knights.

Sunraysia Richmond Team of the Century members: Dale Weightman, Matthew Knights.