Richmond’s draw with Carlton in last Thursday night’s blockbuster 2023 season-opener at the MCG was its sixth during Damien Hardwick’s tenure as coach.
It is the most in the competition throughout that time.
The Tigers have now had a drawn result in each of their past four seasons.
Richmond started its run of draws under Hardwick in Round 2 of the 2011 season against St Kilda at the MCG, scoring 14.11 (95) to the Saints’ 13.17 (95).
Then, in the final round of the next season (Round 23, 2012), Richmond drew with Port Adelaide at the MCG – 16.10 (106) apiece.
There subsequently was an eight-year gap between draws for the Tigers, until they tied with Collingwood in Round 2, 2020 in a low-scoring slog, also at the ‘G’ – 5.6 (36) to 5.6 (36).
Another MCG final-round draw followed for Richmond in 2021 against Hawthorn at the MCG, with both teams recording 12.11 (83).
Then, last year, the Tigers tied with Fremantle in the Round 19 clash at Marvel Stadium – 7.10 (52) apiece.
Thursday night’s draw was Richmond’s third against Carlton in AFL/VFL history and the Club’s 26th overall since entering the competition in 1908.
The Tigers are fifth on the competition’s all-time draws ladder, behind St Kilda 27, Collingwood 28, Carlton 35 and Essendon 36.
Hardwick has coached in the most drawn games of any current-day AFL coach, and he’s equal-fifth behind Norm Smith seven, Mick Malthouse seven, Leigh Matthews eight, and Jock McHale 10, on the competition’s all-time coaching draws list.
Veteran Richmond star key Jack Riewoldt has become the outright leader for most draws by a player in AFL/VFL history with eight.
The two other drawn matches Riewoldt played in before Hardwick took over as the Tigers’ coach were against Western Bulldogs, Round 5, 2008, Marvel Stadium – 20.10 (130) to the Dogs 19.16 (130), and Round 18, 2009 v North Melbourne, MCG – 12.13 (85) each.
Meanwhile, club historian Rhett Bartlett reports that Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto have joined eight other players to play in a draw on their AFL/VFL debut with the Tigers.
That list (in chronological order) is:
• Sid Reeves, Round 14, 1910 v Geelong, Punt Road.
• Havel Rowe, Round 5, 1948 v Essendon, Windy Hill.
• Graeme Wilkinson, Round 1, 1960 v Carlton, Princes Park.
• Murray Gainger, Round 1, 1960 v Carlton, Princes Park.
• Paul Sarah, Round 3, 1980 v St Kilda, MCG.
• Terry Smith, Round 3, 1980 v St Kilda, MCG.
• Jason Torney, Round 15, 1995 v Essendon, MCG.
• Ben Miller, Round 23, 2021 v Hawthorn, MCG.
• Jacob Hopper, Round 1, 2023 v Carlton, MCG.
• Tim Taranto, Round 1, 2023 v Carlton, MCG.
