Richmond's joint major partner Latitude has provided a moment to savour for one of the Club's most loyal servants.

William Meaklim OAM was Richmond's historian from 1986-2019 and has been a member of his beloved Tigers for 78 years.

Having first volunteered for the Club as a statistician in 1973, Meaklim's affiliation runs deep, and courtesy of Latitude, the humble man tossed the coin at the MCG for AFL stars Dylan Grimes and Tom Stewart just moments before Friday night’s match.

Latitude, Australia's leading provider of interest-free shopping and consumer finance, jumped at the chance to give the opportunity to Meaklim once it heard about his touching story of dedication to the Club.

The Round 9 fixture was Latitude’s Match Day.

“We’re delighted to continue our tradition of recognising a special fan each year with the coin toss, and given Bill’s remarkable dedication to the football club, he was the fan for the job!,” Susan Foley Head of Brand & Content at Latitude said.

“Bill’s selfless commitment and love for the Tigers exemplifies the spirit of our partnership. We’re honoured to have played a small role in making his coin toss moment at the MCG possible.”

"I want to pass on my eternal thanks to Latitude," Meaklim said.

"It was an amazing privilege to be offered the opportunity to toss the coin and one I am very grateful for."

Meaklim decided to support the Tigers in the school playground in 1944. Part of his decision was the fact there were two buses he could take to the ground, which satisfied his parents with a direct Saturday afternoon commute.

Having volunteered for the Club at a time when it had just 10 paid staff members, Meaklim said it was the admiration he gained from telling people of his association with Richmond that kept driving him.

"I even recently felt this in the hospital when telling the staff that I had been given the privilege of the coin toss," he added.

"It's the way the game brings people together that I love."

Meaklin added that it was a personal challenge for him physically to be able to represent the Club and Latitude by tossing the coin, making it even more worthwhile.

"The worst coin toss I have ever seen was when Trent (Cotchin) won the toss a couple of years ago and chose the wrong end of the ground, and the other time was when I once saw it stuck in the mud and it had to be re-tossed," he joked.

"I just love the joy Richmond gives so many people and am honoured to be part of the Richmond story."