Richmond’s 2019 premiership team was the most experienced in terms of total games played of all the flag-winning sides in Tigerland history.
The triumphant Tigers of 2019 had a combined 2764 games between them, with Jack Riewoldt, 262 games, the most experienced, and Marlion Pickett, one game, the least experienced.
Twelve team members had played 100 games or more – Riewoldt, David Astbury, Josh Caddy, Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Brandon Ellis, Dylan Grimes, Bachar Houli, Tom Lynch, Dustin Martin, Dion Prestia and Nick Vlastuin, while four had played less than 50 games – Pickett, Liam Baker, Shai Bolton and Ivan Soldo.
Oldest player was Houli, 31 years, 139 days, and the youngest was Bolton, 20 years, 294 days.
And the average age of this year’s premiership line-up was 26 years, 176 days, which makes it the third oldest, behind the 1934 team (26 years, 282 days) and the 1921 side (26 years, 336 days).
The full list of Richmond premiership teams’ experience is . . .
1920 – 1263 games in total. Five 100-game players. Eight under 50 games. Average age: 26 years, 3 days.
1921 – 1453 games. Five 100-game players. Six under 50 games. Average age: 26 years, 336 days.
1932 – 1359 games. Six 100-game players. Six under 50 games. Average age: 25 years, 64 days.
1934 – 1941 games. Nine 100-game players. Two under 50 games. Average age: 26 years, 282 days.
1943 – 1026 games. Two 100-game players. Twelve under 50 games. Average age: 25 years, 143 days.
1967 – 1178 games. Four 100-game players. Twelve under 50 games. Average age: 23 years, 166 days.
1969 – 1236 games. Four 100-game players. Nine under 50 games. Average age: 23 years, 168 days.
1973 – 1821 games. Ten 100-game players. Four under 50 games. Average age: 24 years, 164 days.
1974 – 2174 games. Eleven 100-game players. Three under 50 games. Average age: 25 years, 110 days.
1980 – 2107 games. Eight 100-game players. Five under 50 games. Average age: 25 years, 116 days.
2017 – 2290 games. Eleven 100-game players. Seven under 50 games. Average age: 25 years, 43 days.
2019 – 2764 games. Twelve 100-game players. Four under 50 games. Average age: 26 years, 176 days.
And here’s how Richmond’s 2019 premiership team stacks up experience-wise against all the AFL’s premiers since 2000 . . .
2000 – Essendon: 2470 games, 25 years, 240 days.
2001 – Brisbane: 2758 games, 25 years, 150 days.
2002 – Brisbane: 3185 games, 26 years, 131 days.
2003 – Brisbane: 3454 games, 26 years, 264 days.
2004 – Port Adelaide: 2847 games, 27 years, two days.
2005 – Sydney: 2701 games, 25 years, 273 days.
2006 – West Coast: 2652 games, 25 years, 273 days.
2007 – Geelong: 2578 games, 25 years, 273 days.
2008 – Hawthorn: 2362 games, 24 years, 218 days.
2009 – Geelong: 3199 games, 26 years, 259 days.
2010 – Collingwood: 2226 games, 24 years, 57 days.
2011 – Geelong: 3207 games, 27 years, 99 days.
2012 – Sydney: 2890 games, 26 years, 182 days.
2013 – Hawthorn: 3069 games, 26 years, 278 days.
2014 – Hawthorn: 3026 games, 26 years, 294 days.
2015 – Hawthorn: 3670 games, 27 years, 304 days.
2016 – Western Bulldogs: 1807 games, 24 years, 144 days.
2017 – Richmond: 2290 games, 25 years, 43 days.
2018 – West Coast: 2657 games, 26 years, 107 days.
2019 – Richmond: 2764 games, 26 years, 176 days.
