BETWEEN them they have won 24 premierships, including five of those up for grabs in the 1970s when they were two of the powerhouse clubs of the competition.
Yet what is remarkable about Richmond and Hawthorn is that not only have they never met in a Grand Final, they've not even met in a final.
Since joining the League in 1908, the Tigers have played finals against 13 rival clubs. The Hawks came into the competition in 1925 and have also played finals against 13 opposition clubs.
It probably explains why the two clubs, whose original home suburbs are neighbours in Melbourne's inner-east, have never been particularly great rivals. Richmond looks north, towards Carlton and Collingwood for its biggest rivalries. For the Hawks, it is Essendon, Geelong and Sydney.
The Tigers and Hawks have played in the same finals series on nine occasions and the closest they have come to meeting in September was probably the first time they both made it, in 1971. The Hawks just edged St Kilda by two points in the second semi-final. Had they lost the Tigers would have been waiting for them in the preliminary final.
In 1974, the Hawks lost to North Melbourne in both the qualifying and preliminary finals and would have then played the Tigers had they won either game. The following year, the Tigers lost to North in the preliminary final, with the Hawks waiting to play the winner in the Grand Final.
Hawthorn and Richmond also circled each other in 1982. Indeed, the Hawks twice handily beat the Tigers in the home and away season and were certain they had their measure should they have played again in the finals.
However, the problem for the Hawks was they were beaten in a pair of finals against Carlton and never got the chance to show their supremacy over the Tigers, who they would have played next.
If results this weekend follow current ladder positions heading into the final round of the home and away season, Richmond and Hawthorn would play a qualifying final at the MCG – and the place might not be large enough to fit all those who want to see it.
The Tigers have more than 100,000 members while Hawthorn's membership is now more than 80,000.
It would certainly mean that the Tigers feared MCG home ground advantage, where they won 20 straight games, would be largely neutralised given it is Hawthorn's home ground as well and the crowd support would likely be split 50-50.
A Richmond-Hawthorn final would also mean a coaching match-up between close friends Damien Hardwick and Alastair Clarkson. Hardwick was an assistant coach under Clarkson in Hawthorn's 2008 premiership team.
Other finals match-up droughts
Essendon and the Western Bulldogs (Footscray) last met in the finals in the 1953 first semi-final. The Dogs won by eight points.
Richmond and Melbourne last met in the finals in the 1940 Grand Final. Melbourne won by 39 points.
Carlton and the Western Bulldogs have never met in a final.
Richmond and the Western Bulldogs have never met in a final.
