Richmond’s theme song is almost universally acclaimed as the best of any club in the AFL.

‘We’re From Tigerland’, written by cabaret performer and passionate Tiger fan Jack Malcolmson in 1962, and subsequently recorded by ‘The Fable Singers’, is loved by all those with Yellow and Black blood coursing through their veins and envied by supporters of the other league clubs.

Images of the Tiger Army at the ground, proudly bellowing out We’re From Tigerland before and after a game, and the players doing likewise in the rooms post-victory, have become an iconic feature of the Club.

But before Jack Malcolmson put pen to paper to compose those brilliant, rousing words, Richmond had another theme song, albeit an unofficial one.

‘Onward the Tigers’, sung to the tune of ‘Waltzing Matilda’, was recorded by ‘The Thinmen and the Party Allstars’.

It celebrates the Tigers’ tradition, attacking style of play, heart and skill, famous Yellow and Black colors, as well as referencing the Club’s legendary ‘Eat ‘em Alive’ battle cry.

Although not in the same class as We’re From Tigerland, it is, nevertheless, quite a good song.

Here are the lyrics to Onward the Tigers . . .

“We’re the boys from Richmond,
We’re the boys from Tigerland,
We proudly wear the Yellow and Black,
And when it comes to football,
We play the famous Tiger brand,
Right from the bounce we attack, we attack!
Onward the Tigers, onward the Tigers,
Eat ‘em alive boys and never give in,
For the honoured tradition,
The glory of old Richmond,
We play the game and we play it to win.
Onward the Tigers, onwards the Tigers,
We’ve got the team and there’s nothing it lacks,
We’ve got heart, we’ve got skill,
We’ve got everything at Richmond,
We are the Tigers, the Yellow and Black.”