The mighty support Richmond receives from its “19th man” - the Tiger Army - is reflected in the crowd figures after 14 rounds of the 2011 season . . .
In seven home games to date, the Tigers have attracted a combined attendance figure of 332,916, at an average of 47,559 per game.
They are ranked No. 2 in the competition for home-game totals (behind Carlton), and No. 4 overall for average home crowds (behind Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon).
For the entire 2010 season, Richmond’s home-game total crowd figure was 411,969, at an average of 37,452 per game.
Admittedly, the 2011 home-game totals are slightly distorted, given the fact Collingwood has played only six home games, compared to Richmond and Carlton’s seven. Nevertheless, the figures are extremely good, and speak volumes for the strong backing provided by the Tiger Army.
In the Round 9 Dreamtime clash this season, Richmond attracted a massive crowd of 83,563, which was the biggest turnout at a Tigers’ home-game win since 1982.
Two rounds earlier, the Tigers smashed their highest crowd figure against Fremantle in Melbourne (which had been 26,219), when 34,090 fans watched them defeat the Dockers by 49 points at the MCG.
The previous week, Richmond broke its all-time attendance figure for a match against Brisbane, with 37,438 flocking to the ‘G to see the Tigers win by 24 points.
And, last Saturday’s Richmond-Melbourne attendance figure of 61,900 was the third highest ever in the history of meetings between the two clubs.
Richmond is dedicating this Saturday’s big Round 15 clash with arch-rival Carlton at the MCG to its Fighting Tiger Fund and has put the call out to the Tiger Army to help turn the famous stadium into an awesome sea of Yellow and Black.
Not surprisingly, this has already struck a chord with the Tiger Army, via the Club’s Facebook page . . .
“I wanna see every Tiger fan at the Punt Road end this week holding their scarves up high when the boys come down and do their warm-up. The Cheer Squad and other Punt Road Enders have to start learning the Grog Squad chants, too. If we could get the whole Punt Road end up and singing as one, it would be absolutely brilliant . . . I just want the whole Punt Road end to go nuts. How awesome would it look with a whole end of the ‘G raising their scarves! It’d be mint,” said Travy McInroy.
“Go Tigers. I will be there. Let’s take over the MCG . . . the Tiger is stirring,” said Kim Hudson.
“I’ll be there. Nothing like the Tiger Army roar,” said Potta Findikidis.
“Road trip down from Sydney. My nine-year-old daughter’s first game at the ‘G, can’t wait,” said Mary Turnbull.
