As Richmond prepares for its title defence in season 2020, Tony Greenberg analyses the Club’s league football record as the reigning premier.
In the immediate year following each of Richmond’s VFL/AFL premierships, the Tigers have made it back-to-back flags twice (1920-21 and 1973-74), finished runner-up on two occasions (1933 and 1944) and third three other times (1935, 1975 and 2018). They narrowly missed the finals in two other seasons (by just two points in 1968 and four points in 1981).
And Richmond’s record first-up in defence of its premiership is quite good.
The Tigers have won seven and lost four of their 11 opening round games post-premiership.
Here, in greater detail, is Richmond’s history as league football’s title-holder . . .
1920: Premiers
1921
Finished: Premiers. Defeated Carlton by four points in the Grand Final at the MCG – 5.6 (36) to 4.8 (32).
Home-and-away record: Second with 12 wins and four losses.
Overall season record: 15 wins and four losses (won last eight games).
Round 1 result: Lost to Carlton by nine points at Punt Road – 7.11 (53) to 8.14 (62).
1921: Premiers
1922
Finished: Fifth (under the final four system).
Home-and-away record: Seven wins and nine losses.
Round 1 result: Defeated Collingwood by 17 points at Punt Road – 10.13 (73) to 8.8 (56).
1932: Premiers
1933
Finished: Runner-up. Lost to South Melbourne by 42 points in the Grand Final at the MCG – 4.5 (29) to 9.17 (71).
Home-and-away record: Top of the ladder with 15 wins and three losses.
Overall season record: 16 wins and five losses.
Round 1 result: Defeated Melbourne by 32 points at the MCG – 14.12 (96) to 9.10 (64).
1934: Premiers
1935
Finished: Third. Lost to Collingwood by 28 points in the preliminary final at the MCG – 9.12 (66) to 14.10 (94).
Home-and-away record: Fourth with 12 wins and six losses.
Overall season record: 13 wins and seven losses.
Round 1 result: Defeated Footscray by 35 points at the Western Oval – 14.12 (96) to 7.19 (61).
1943: Premiers
1944
Finished: Runner-up. Lost to Fitzroy by 15 points in the Grand Final at the Junction Oval – 7.9 (51) to 9.12 (66).
Home-and-away record: Top of the ladder with 13 wins, one draw and four losses.
Overall season record: 14 wins, one draw and six losses.
Round 1 result: Defeated Melbourne by 40 points at Punt Road – 19.18 (132) to 14.8 (92).
1967: Premiers
1968
Finished: Fifth (final four).
Home-and-away record: 14 wins and six losses.
Round 1 result: Defeated Collingwood by 16 points at Victoria Park – 11.22 (88) to 10.12 (72).
1969: Premiers
1970
Finished: Sixth (final four).
Home-and-away record: 12 wins and 10 losses.
Round 1 result: Lost to Fitzroy by 20 points at the MCG – 14.12 (96) to 16.20 (116).
1973: Premiers
1974
Finished: Premiers. Defeated North Melbourne by 41 points in the Grand Final at the MCG – 18.20 (128) to 13.9 (87).
Home-and-away record: Top of the ladder with 17 wins and five losses.
Overall season record: 19 wins and five losses.
Round 1 result: Lost to Hawthorn by 16 points at the MCG – 12.16 (88) to 15.14 (104).
1974: Premiers
1975
Finished: Third. Lost to North Melbourne by 17 points in the preliminary final at Waverley Park – 8.11 (59) to 10.16 (76).
Home-and-away record: Fourth (final five system) with 13 wins and nine losses.
Overall season record: 15 wins and 10 losses.
Round 1 result: Defeated Fitzroy by five points at the Junction Oval – 15.13 (103) to 14.14 (98).
1980: Premiers
1981
Finished: Seventh (final five system).
Home-and-away record: 13 wins and nine losses.
Round 1 result: Lost to Carlton by 62 points at Waverley Park – 12.10 (82) to 22.12 (144).
2017: Premiers
2018
Finished: Third. Lost to Collingwood by 39 points in the preliminary final at the MCG.
Home-and-away record: 18 wins and four losses.
Round 1 result: Defeated Carlton by 26 points at the MCG – 17.19 (121) to 15.5 (95).
