Richmond will be the inaugural opponent of the Gold Coast Suns when they make their AFL debut in the 2011 season.

The AFL yesterday (September 2) confirmed the debut fixture for Gold Coast.  It will be a Round 2 clash at the Gabba, with the Suns having the bye in the opening round, and the redevelopment of their Carrara Stadium home stadium not completed until late May.

This will be the fourth time that Richmond has ‘welcomed’ a new team into the competition.

In Round 1, 1925, the Tigers played host to newcomer, Hawthorn, at Punt Road, defeating the team then known as the Mayblooms by 39 points - 11.11 (77) to 5.8 (38).

Six decades later, in Round 1 of the 1987 season, Richmond ventured to Subiaco to take on the fledgling West Coast Eagles.  The inaccurate Tigers lost a high-scoring affair - 16.23 (119) to West Coast’s 20.13 (133).

Then, in the opening round of the 1995 season, Richmond hosted the debutant Fremantle Dockers at the MCG.  The Tigers scraped home by five points in that match - 12.18 (90) to 12.13 (85).