Richmond Football Club was born on this day 130 years ago.
The formation of the Club took place on February 20, 1885, at a public meeting held at the Royal Hotel (which remains to this day), directly opposite Punt Road Oval.
Richmond entered the premier football competition of the day – the Victorian Football Association – in the 1885 season.
By the start of the 20th century, the Club had become a VFA powerhouse.
The Tigers progressed from third in 1900 to runners-up in 1901 and then, in 1902, they won their inaugural premiership. Another VFA premiership followed in 1905.
In late 1907, Richmond, which possessed playing strength, financial stability, a prime, central location, and a large, passionate supporter base, received an invitation to join the breakaway Victorian Football League competition.
The Tigers subsequently made their VFL debut in the 1908 season and gradually built into a force to be reckoned with, capturing their first league premiership in 1920.
They made it back-to-back flags with success in the 1921 Grand Final.
Further Tiger premiership triumphs ensued in 1932, 1934, 1943, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1980.
All-up, Richmond has won 10 league premierships, making it one of the most successful clubs in the competition’s history.
And, a veritable cavalcade of champions – many of the greatest players the game has ever seen – have proudly called Tigerland home throughout the past 130 years . . . the likes of Jack ‘Captain Blood’ Dyer, Jack Titus, Vic Thorp, Bill Morris, Roy Wright, Kevin Bartlett, Royce Hart, Francis Bourke, Ian Stewart and Matthew Richardson, to name just a few.
Many happy returns, Richmond . . . May the coming years bring many more premierships, and enormous enjoyment for the Tiger Army.
The Tigers’ tale
Formed: February 20, 1885
First VFA game: Round 1, 1885 v Williamstown at Garden’s Reserve, Williamstown, May 2 (Richmond 0.5 to Williamstown 1.17)
Total VFA games: 419
Wins: 192
Losses: 206
Draws: 21
VFA premierships: 2 (1902, 1905)
Joined VFL in 1908
First VFL game: Round 1, 1908 v Melbourne, Punt Road Oval, May 2 (Richmond 8.14 to Melbourne 7.9)
Total VFL/AFL games: 2081
Wins: 1039
Losses: 1021
Draws: 21
Highest VFL/AFL score: 34.18 (222) v St Kilda, Round 16, 1980, SCG
Greatest winning margin: 168 points v North Melbourne, Round 2, 1931, Punt Road
Lowest score: 0.8 (8) v St Kilda, Junction Oval, Round 16, 1961
Greatest losing margin: 157 points v Geelong, Round 6, 2007, Etihad Stadium
Most consecutive wins: 12 (Round 11, 1932 to Round 2, 1933)
Most consecutive losses: 15 (Round 9, 2004 to Round 1, 2005)
Most VFL/AFL career goals: Jack Titus, 970 (1926-43)
Most goals in a season: Michael Roach, 112 (1980)
Most goals in a match: Doug Strang, 14 v North Melbourne, Round 2, 1931, Punt Road
Most times Club’s leading goalkicker: Matthew Richardson, 13 (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Total VFL/AFL finals: 80
Wins: 46
Losses: 33
Draws: 1
VFL/AFL premierships: 10 – 1920, 1921, 1932, 1934, 1943, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1980
Runners-up: 12 – 1919, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1972, 1982
Pre-season/night premierships: 1 – 1962
Reserve-grade premierships: 9 – 1929, 1946, 1954, 1955, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1997
Under 19s premierships: 11 – 1958, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1989
Brownlow Medallists: Stan Judkins 1930, Bill Morris 1948, Roy Wright 1952 and 1954, Ian Stewart 1971
Norm Smith Medallists: Kevin Bartlett, 1980 and Maurice Rioli, 1982
Most Best and Fairests: Jack Dyer, 6 (1932, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946)
Most games as a player: Kevin Bartlett, 403 (1965-83)
Most games as captain: Percy Bentley, 168 (1932-40)
Most games as coach: Tommy Hafey, 248 (1966-76)
