One of Richmond’s earliest football rivalries will resume this weekend, following an absence of 107 years . . .

When Richmond confronts Williamstown in Round 3 of the 2014 VFL season on Eastern Saturday (Burbank Oval, Williamstown from 12.15pm), it will be the first time the two teams have met since 1907.

That was Richmond’s last season in the then Victorian Football Association, before joining the Victorian Football League in 1908.

On Saturday, July 27, 1907, Richmond defeated Williamstown by 15 points at Punt Road Oval – 8.20 (68) to 7.11 (53) – in what was to be the last match between the two sides for more than a century.

Williamstown would recover from that loss and go on to win the 1907 VFA premiership, downing West Melbourne by 18 points in the grand final.

The Tigers, who had finished second on the ladder at the end of the home-and-away rounds in 1907, were bundled out in the semi-final by West Melbourne.