A lot can change over a century, but for Henry 'Harry' Dickson one thing always stayed the same - his love for the Tigers.

Yellow and Black since 1919, Dickson was first signed up to be a Richmond member as a five-year-old by his two uncles, who lived in the suburb and would take him to games as a youngster.

It was love at first sight for Dickson, who was alive for each of the Tigers' VFL/AFL premierships, and attended every one from 1932 to 1980.

Dickson, who passed away on July 14, 2024 aged 105, passed his passion on to the following three generations of his family, including his grandson Cameron De Kok.

"He loved his Tigers, with an exception for family, more than anything else," De Kok said of his late grandfather. 

"There aren’t many people that can say they have attended footy matches for over 100 years.

"Despite everything towards the end he still knew when, where and who the team was playing."

Dickson was a member of the Club until the 1960s, when, as a dairy farmer and milkman based in Merricks, it became hard to attend games. 

But his love for Richmond never wavered, and he eventually re-joined the Tiger Army in 2005. 

"After my nan Margaret unfortunately passed away in 2005, my mum and my uncles got him the membership to sign him back up again to the footy and keep him busy, because he looked after her for a long time as she wasn't well," De Kok said.

"It gave him something to do and and reconnect with the Tigers, something he was passionate about.

"I joined up the following year in 2006, and we tried to get to every match in Melbourne. We went as often as as possible and we were always talking footy whenever we caught up."

Since his lifetime spanned over decades of Yellow and Black success, Dickson was spoilt for choice when it came to his most-loved players, with Jack Dyer, Jack Titus and Matthew Richardson among his all-time favourites. 

"He loved Michael Roach, Kevin Bartlett, Francis Jackson. And current day, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin, De Kok said.

"He had a chance to speak to 'Richo' one day and regard him with stories of his own dad, Alan 'Bull' Richardson, which some of them even 'Richo' didn't know.

"He loved what the Tigers were all about. Going back to its origin of the blue collar area, that hard work and determination to never give up, always keep fighting.

"He never lost faith in the team."

For De Kok and his family, the moments the shared with Dickson at the 'G will be precious, lifelong memories. 

"I can happily say that the one match he was able to attend this year was the Sydney game in Round 3 with my mum and daughter, so we had four generations there on the day," De Kok said.

"To be at that win and to all be there together, that was something really special.

"He was eagerly looking forward to getting better and going along to another game this year and beyond," De Kok said.

"He was always confident of the team bouncing back next year, often heard saying 'we’ll surprise a few next year, we’ll be back'. 

"He was laser-focused, and from siren to siren, there was no disrupting him from watching the footy.

"And he loved to sing the song."

Saturday's Round 24 match against Gold Coast at the MCG will mark the Club's annual Thank You Tiger Army Round, celebrating and rewarding fans for their support this season.