Traditional rivals Richmond and Collingwood occupy the top two spots on the league ladder for the first time since Round 12, 1977.
Back then, after the completed round of matches on Saturday, June 18, ‘77, it was the Tigers in second place and the Magpies ladder leaders.
Richmond had beaten Fitzroy by 52 points at the MCG that day, with champion rover Kevin Bartlett at his brilliant best, picking up 37 disposals and kicking two goals.
Collingwood cemented top spot with a 33-point victory over Footscray at the Western Oval.
The Tigers finished up fourth overall that year, defeating South Melbourne by 34 points in the elimination final, but losing to North Melbourne by 47 points in the first semi-final.
The Magpies topped the ladder at the end of the ’77 home-and-away season, scraped in by two points against Hawthorn in the second semi-final and then drew the Grand Final with North Melbourne, before losing the Grand Final replay.
You have to rewind to Round 19 of the 1974 season, on Saturday, August 10, for the previous time the league ladder showed Richmond on top and Collingwood second.
On that day, the Tigers downed North Melbourne by 25 points at Waverley Park, while the Pies scored a 23-point win against Geelong at Kardinia Park.
Richmond would go on to defeat the Kangaroos by 41 points in the Grand Final, making it back-to-back premierships for the Tigers.
Collingwood beat Footscray by 69 points in the elimination final at Waverley Park, but bowed out in the first semi-final at the MCG, losing to Hawthorn by 50 points.
