Richmond’s challenge to defeat top-of-the-ladder Sydney at ANZ Stadium in Saturday’s crucial final home-and-away round encounter, and thereby clinch a finals berth, is even greater when you factor in the Tigers’ recent record against the Swans in the Harbour City.

It’s been more than 10 years since Richmond last won in Sydney – May 9, 2004 to be exact. 

As an indication of how long ago that was, only one member of that successful team is still at Tigerland – Chris Newman, who, back then, was a 21-year-old, in just his 42^nd game of league football.  He’s now a 32-year old preparing to play his 250^th game!

Matthew Richardson was the star of that last Tiger win against the Swans in Sydney.  On a soggy SCG surface, he produced one of the finest games of his career, gathering 15 kicks, pulling down 10 marks (as if it was a dry day) and booting seven of the team’s 10 goals in an outstanding, match-winning performance.

Not surprisingly, ‘Richo’ earned the three Brownlow votes in that match, with talented teammate Nathan Brown collecting two votes following his 28-possession, one-goal display, and ex-Magpie, Paul Williams, picking up the one vote for his efforts with the Swans.

The Tiger team that day was captained by Wayne Campbell, now the AFL umpires’ boss, while just one other member of the ’04 line-up is still playing league football – Jay Schulz at Port Adelaide.

Since 2004, Richmond has lost seven straight in Sydney against the Swans although, admittedly, all those matches took place at the SCG.

The only time the Tigers have played at ANZ Stadium was the final round of the 2002 season, when they lost to the Swans by 40 points (11.10 to 17.14).