In the lead-up to Richmond’s 2017 finals campaign, Tony Greenberg lists his top 10 Yellow and Black September memories (excluding Grand Finals) . . .

1. Teenage key forward star Royce Hart produces a superb six-goal display in his debut finals match (and Richmond’s first for 20 years) – the ’67 second semi-final – which lifts the Tigers to a resounding 40-point victory over the Blues and entry straight into the Grand Final.

2. Richmond slaughters Geelong by 118 points in the 1969 first semi-final at the MCG. Ruckman Michael Green takes nearly 20 marks in an outstanding performance for the Tigers, while Bill Barrot (35 disposals), Royce Hart (32 disposals), Eric Moore (six goals) and Francis Bourke (four goals) also shine brightly on a glorious Yellow and Black September Saturday.

3. Little-known blond forward Marty McMillan replaces injured triple Brownlow Medallist Ian Stewart at half-time in the 1972 second-semi final against Carlton at Waverley Park, with Richmond trailing by three goals, and triggers a bold Tigers’ comeback. His three second-half goals enable Richmond to scramble a draw in a thrilling, low-scoring encounter – 8.13 apiece.

4. Despite being severely hampered with a chronic knee problem, Royce Hart manages to inspire a fantastic second-half fightback by Richmond to down arch-rival Collingwood by seven points in the 1973 preliminary final. Hart spends the first half watching from the bench and resting his injured knee, but with the Tigers trailing by six goals at the long break (they were as much as 45 points behind during the second term), coach Tommy Hafey has no option but to call on his champion captain for a supreme effort. Hart responds in typically brilliant style, kicking two goals and having a hand in several others, to drag Richmond over the line and into the Grand Final.

5. Under-rated ruck-rover Bill Nettlefold slots through a crucial goal late in the 1975 elimination final against Collingwood at Waverley Park, to stem a bold black and white comeback, and keep the Tigers’ dream of a premiership hat-trick alive. The Magpies had cut Richmond’s lead from seven goals to a mere five points, before Nettlefold steps up to save the day.

6. Champion rover-turned-dynamic small Tiger forward Kevin Bartlett celebrates the breaking of John Rantall’s then league record of 336 games by producing a dazzling display at half-forward in the 1980 qualifying final against Carlton at Waverley Park. KB boots six goals to sink the Blues and propel Richmond into the second-semi final.

7. One week after destroying Carlton in the ’80 qualifying final, Kevin Bartlett is at it again, with Geelong, this time, powerless to stop his goalkicking rampage, in the second semi-final out at Waverley Park. KB slams through eight majors to book a place in the Grand Final for his beloved Tigers.

8. Richmond’s mosquito fleet of Dale Weightman (21 disposals, two goals), Barry Rowlings (30 disposals), Robert Wiley (27 disposals), Geoff Raines (24 disposals), Maurice Rioli (19 disposals), Kevin Bartlett (three goals) and powerful, key-forward captain David Cloke combine to catapult the Tigers into the 1982 Grand Final with a convincing 23-point victory over Carlton in the second semi-final.

9. The Tigers record their first finals victory in 13 years, when they stage a magnificent second-half comeback to topple a powerful Essendon combination in the 1995 do-or-die first semi-final. Inspired by captain Matthew Knights’ brilliance through the midfield, Scotty Turner’s raw aggression, and the elusiveness of Chris Naish, Matty Rogers and Nick Daffy up forward, Richmond comes from six goals down during the third term to grab a memorable victory.

10. Late in the tense last quarter of a low-scoring, cut-throat semi-final battle with Carlton at the MCG in 2001, star Tiger key forward Matthew Richardson breaks away from his opponent, Simon Beaumont, wins possession and handballs over the top to teammate Rory Hilton, who runs on and kicks the match-sealing goal for Richmond.