Richmond Football Club is 136 years old today.
The formation of the Club took place on February 20, 1885, in a public meeting at the Royal Hotel (then known as Byrne’s Royal Hotel), directly opposite Punt Road Oval.
Richmond entered the premier football competition at that time – the Victorian Football Association – in the 1885 season.
After a relatively slow start, the Club had developed into a powerhouse by the start of the 20th century.
The Tigers went from third in 1900 to runners-up in 1901 and then, in 1902, they captured their inaugural premiership. Another VFA premiership followed in 1905.
In late 1907, Richmond, on the back of playing strength, financial stability, a prime, central location, and a large, passionate supporter base, was invited to join the breakaway Victorian Football League competition.
The Tigers made their VFL debut in the 1908 season and went on to claim their first league football premiership in 1920. They made it back-to-back flags with their victory in the 1921 Grand Final.
There were further premierships in 1932, 1934, 1943, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1980. Then, 37 years later, came the glorious drought-breaking flag triumph of 2017, followed by the thumping 2019 Grand Final victory over Greater Western Sydney, and last year’s historic night GF success against Geelong under the lights at the Gabba in Brisbane.
All-up, Richmond has won 13 league football premierships, making it, overall, one of the most successful clubs in the competition’s history.
Since 1920, when Richmond captured its first league football premiership, no other club in the competition has secured more flags.
Over the course of the past 100 years, the Tigers and Hawthorn, with 13 flags apiece, have been the competition’s premiership pacesetters.
And, since the start of the golden Tommy Hafey era in 1967, the Tigers have won eight premierships, with only Hawthorn (12) winning more during that time.
With three premierships in the past four years, under the astute coaching guidance of Damien Hardwick, the roar has well and truly been restored at Tigerland following a lean time on the flag front.
A veritable cavalcade of champions – many of them all-time greats of the game – have called Richmond home throughout the past 136 years, including Jack Dyer, Jack Titus, Vic Thorp, Bill Morris, Roy Wright, Royce Hart, Kevin Bartlett, Francis Bourke, Roger Dean, Michael Green, Kevin Sheedy, Dick Clay, Bill Barrot, Ian Stewart, Michael Roach, Dale Weightman, Geoff Raines, Maurice Rioli, Matthew Richardson, master coach Tommy Hafey. And, in more recent times, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin, Shane Edwards, Dylan Grimes, Alex Rance and now triple premiership coach ‘Dimma’ Hardwick.
Many happy returns, Tigers.
And, now that we’ve started the ‘Roaring 20s’ in such grand style, let’s hope throughout this decade many more premiership cups fill the trophy cabinet at the Club’s iconic Punt Road headquarters.
VFA era facts
Games played: 425
Wins: 190
Losses: 211
Draws: 24
Premierships: 2
Premiership captains: Alec Edmond (1902 and 1905)
Most individual games: Charlie Backhouse, 221 games (1891-1905)
Most individual goals: Jack Hutchinson, 270 (in 70 games)
Competition leading goalkicker: Jack Hutchison, 55 goals in 1906 and 67 goals in 1907.
Total players used (1885-1907): 535
Inaugural membership figure in 1885: 300
*VFA information provided by Rhett Bartlett
AFL/VFL era facts
Total games played: 2301
Wins: 1179
Losses: 1099
Draws: 23
Finals played: 93
Wins: 56
Losses: 36
Draws: 1
Grand Finals played: 24
Premierships: 13
Runners-up: 11
Premiership captains: Dan Minogue (1920, 1921), Percy Bentley (1932, 1934), Jack Dyer (1943), Fred Swift (1967), Roger Dean (1969), Royce Hart (1973, 1974), Bruce Monteath (1980), Trent Cotchin (2017, 2019, 2020)
Premiership coaches: Dan Minogue (1920, 1921), Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes (1932), Percy Bentley (1934), Jack Dyer (1943), Tommy Hafey (1967, 1969, 1973, 1974), Tony Jewell (1980), Damien Hardwick (2017, 2019, 2020)
Most individual games: Kevin Bartlett, 403 (1965-1983)
Most individual goals: Jack Titus, 970 (1926-1943)
Competition leading goalkickers (home-and-away season only): George Bayliss (1920, 62 goals), Dick Harris (1937, 64 goals), Jack Titus (1940, 92 goals), Michael Roach (1980, 107 goals, 1981, 86 goals), Jack Riewoldt (2010, 78 goals, 2012, 65 goals, 2018, 65 goals).
Most goals in a season: Michael Roach, 112 (1980)
Most goals in a match: Doug Strang, 14 (v North Melbourne, Round 2, 1931, Punt Road Oval)
Most times Club’s leading goalkicker in a season: Matthew Richardson, 13 (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Brownlow Medallists: Stan Judkins (1930), Bill Morris (1948), Roy Wright (1952, 1954), Ian Stewart (1971), Trent Cotchin (2012), Dustin Martin (2017)
Norm Smith Medallists: Kevin Bartlett (1980), Maurice Rioli (1982), Dustin Martin (2017, 2019, 2020)
Total players used (1908-2020): 1168
Players born on February 20: Barney Herbert (1889), Ron Evans (1926), John Jenkins (1936), Ray Ball (1949)
