The massive crowd of 94,690 that flocked to the MCG for last Sunday’s elimination final between Richmond and Carlton, was the biggest attendance at a Tigers’ game since the 1982 Grand Final.

Back then, 107,536 people saw Richmond lose the premiership-decider to the Blues by 18 points.

If you take Grand Finals out of the equation, Sunday’s elimination final attendance was Richmond’s highest since its stirring 1973 preliminary final victory over Collingwood at the MCG, which drew 98,652.

On just two other occasions since then (up until Sunday) have the Tigers topped 90,000, in terms of attendance numbers – 92,436 in Round 4 of the 1977 season, against Collingwood at the MCG, and 90,564 in Round 3, 1982 at the ‘G.

Last Sunday’s crowd also was the largest ever for a league elimination final, beating the 90,370 that attended the 2011 Carlton v Essendon cut-throat encounter.

And, it was the biggest week one turn-out at a league final since 1972, when a final five was introduced, eclipsing the 91,900 who came to the 1972 qualifying final between Richmond and Collingwood at the MCG.

Just for good measure, it was the highest attendance at an AFL match in 2013.

The roar of the Tiger Army at the 2013 elimination final was electrifying.

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse, a premiership player with Richmond in 1980, said it felt like being the away team in Perth, and that he had never heard a roar as loud as when the Tigers ran on to the field.

AFL chief Andrew Demetriou agreed, declaring that he couldn’t remember ever hearing such a sound as what he did at the G on Sunday . . .

“It was amazing, quite incredible,” he said.

“The game was highly emotional and the atmosphere was unbelievable.”