Richmond FC (AFL)

Richmond is an existing club that plays in the Australian Football League, and has previously played in the Victorian FL and the Victorian FA. The club was formed in 1885 and has won fifteen premierships.
== Formation ==
Many junior clubs had formed and folded in the early years without a senior club to represent the Richmond area. This changed when the Richmond Football Club was officially formed at the Royal Hotel in Richmond on February 20, 1885.
== Early years ==
Richmond were admitted to the VFA and played it's first game in 1885. In it's first season the Tigers won four games to finish ninth of the ten teams. From there they built up to a fifth place finish in 1888 with eleven wins. But the depression hit the club hard and while they stayed on the field wins were hard to come by. They got their first wooden spoon in 1891 despite winning two games. A rise to eighth the next year gave hope but Richmond slipped back to their second wooden spoon in 1896 with three wins, despite Carlton only winning two games but playing two draws to finish ahead on percentage.
== Making the case (1897-1907) ==
Carlton's admission to the VFL did not sit well with Richmond who felt they should have been invited as well. That led to a few years of struggle with their third wooden spoon and their second in a row in 1897. Up to fourth in 1898 they fell back to sixth in 1899. But then they improved to third in 1900, second in 1901 and finally it's first premiership in 1902. In 1903 the VFA introduced the Argus finals series, and Richmond would make the grand final only to be defeated by North Melbourne.
Richmond would make headlines in 1904 when they refused to play in the decider that season against against North. This was because of an issue with the umpire who had failed to inspect the North player's boots for a second time on Richmond's request durng the semi final which Richmond lost. As the minor premier Richmond had the right to challenge the winner of the preliminary final, but the same umpire had control issues in the preliminary final which North won. Richmond demanded a replacement in the prevailing circumstances, but the Association refused and awarded the flag to North Melbourne by forfeit.
Richmond would rebound in 1905 and defeat North for their second flag, but in 1906 and 1907 they would make the finals but lose their semi final to finish third both times. Footscray would eliminate them in 1906 and West Melbourne in 1907. On both occasions Richmond finished second on the ladder.
== To World War 1 (1908-1915) ==
The VFA were furious when Richmond headed to the VFL in 1908 and had Richmond's application been denied the VFA would have kicked them out. Richmond had a good debut season winning six games starting in it's debut game against Melbourne, although they lost the next week to fellow debutante University who would ultimately finish with the wooden spoon below them. In 1909 Richmond would also win six games but finish one rung higher in eighth place.
Seven wins and a draw in 1910 had Richmond up to seventh, but they slipped back to eighth in 1911 with seven wins. And in 1912 they had their worst season since their debut with just three wins and ninth. In 1913 Richmond bounced back up to seventh albeit with just six wins, but in 1914 they had their best return to date with eight wins. However that only earned them eighth place. A rise to sixth in 1915 on the other hand was done on the back of only five wins, partly caused by the demise of University as the clouds gathered around World War 1.
== Post War (1916-1924) ==
Richmond were one of four clubs not to go into recess for the war and in 1916 all four played the finals with Richmond losing their semi final to Carlton. With six teams in 1917 they dropped to their first wooden spoon. In 1918 it was sixth again but with eight clubs now it wasn't a second spoon. It would be 1919 that the Tigers would make the finals for the first time finishing fourth. And better still they would win their first final over South Melbourne to challenge minor premiers Collingwood. And Richmond defeated them and well also. But Collingwood had the right of challenge and reversed the result to deny them the flag.
It would be 1920 that the Tigers would arrive. A minor premiership sent the message, but Carlton looked to spoil the party with a semi final win. Richmond however had the right of challenge and Collingwood defeated Carlton to take it up. And the Tigers did it - a victory by 17 points and their first VFL premiership (and their first flag since 1905 in the VFA). In 1921 Richmond finished second and won their semi final against Geelong before knocking off minor premiers Carlton in the final. Carlton challenged but the Tigers repeated the win to annex their second flag in a row. It took its toll as they slipped to fifth in 1922 and then eighth in 1923. But they were back in 1924 finishing fourth. The finals series this year was a round robin and Richmond won two of it's three games, including the last one over Essendon. But percentage denied the Tigers the flag.
== To World War 2 (1925-1942) ==
The admission of three clubs had an adverse effect on the Tigers as they crashed to seventh in 1925 and stayed there in 1926. But in 1927 they were back, only to have a frustrating three year period - all caused by the rampant Collingwood. Three times Richmond played the Magpies in the grand final and three times they were beaten. The closest was in 1929 when the Tigers beat Collingwood in the semi final - the only loss for the season for the Magpies in the wash up. In 1930 Richmond couldn't repeat the semi final win and were eliminated.
In 1931 the Tigers welcomed the new finals system by defeating Geelong in the second semi final to progress to the grand final. No Collingwood this time but Geelong bounced back and Richmond lost another grand final. But in 1932 the Tigers would make amends. Another second semi final victory, this time over Carlton, and in the grand final Richmond would repeat the dose to win the flag for the first time since 1921. In 1933 they looked to win two in a row again as they had before finishing on top of the ladder. But South Melbourne would defeat them in the second semi final. The Tigers defeated Geelong in the preliminary final, but South were too good in the grand final. In 1934 Richmond again finished on top and this time won the second semi final - over Geelong. South Melbourne won through to the grand final, but the Tigers got their revenge for 1933 and won their second flag in three years.
In 1935 Richmond only made fourth spot by a game, but they upended Carlton in the first semi final - only to run into a rebounding Collingwood in the preliminary final. In 1936 the Tigers missed the finals for the first time since 1926 finishing sixth. They were back in fourth in 1937 only for Collingwood to frustrate them yet again in the first semi final. In 1938 Richmond dropped back to sixth again, but in 1939 they were back again finishing third. It would be St Kilda who would eliminate them this time.
World War 2 began and in 1940 the Tigers finished second and defeated Melbourne in the second semi final. But Melbourne would come back and win the grand final. In 1941 Richmond finished third and suffered another first semi final exit, this time at the hands of Essendon. As the war intensified, the Tigers maintained their presence in 1942 finishing second again and going straight through to the grand final beating Essendon. But the Bombers came back and denied Richmond a flag again. The Tigers had lost seven grand finals in 15 years and only won two.
== Post War (1943-1959) ==
In 1943 Richmond were determined to do something about that poor record. It was a tough season and they finished on top but only on percentage from Essendon and Fitzroy. A bad start to the finals followed with a loss in the second semi final, but the Tigers bounced back over Fitzroy and then got their revenge on Essendon in the grand final to finally win the flag - their first since 1934. In 1944 as the war started to ease Richmond again finished on top of the ladder. They lost the second semi again - this time to Fitzroy. The Tigers would rebound again defeating Essendon but the Lions were too good in the big one.
In 1945 as the war drew to a close, Richmond fell to seventh on the ladder to miss the finals for the first time since 1938 and only the third time since 1926. A jump to fifth followed in 1946 and in 1947 they would make the finals finishing fourth - only to be eliminated by Fitzroy. That would be the last finals series the Tigers would play for some time. After finishing fifth in 1948, the club finished sixth for three years running. In 1952 they would drop to ninth and then in 1953 they would drop to tenth in their lowest placed finish in the history of the VFL.
Richmond jumped back up to fifth in 1954 and then finished sixth in 1955 before dropping back to tenth again in 1956. The Tigers finished seventh in 1957 before dropping to tenth again in 1958, and then their worst placing to date in 1959 finishing eleventh only a game off the bottom.
== 1960's ==
In 1960 the Tigers hit rock bottom, finishing last for their first wooden spoon since 1917. In 1961 they managed to get to tenth only half a game off the bottom, and then in 1962 they rose to eighth in a promising sign. But in 1963 they dropped back to tenth and in 1964 they finished ninth. And in 1965 it looked like they were back when they finished fifth. This was despite a forced coaching change during the season when Len Smith had a heart attack and was replaced by Jack Titus.
In 1966 Richmond appointed Tom Hafey as coach - and the 1965 finish proved to be anything but a fluke. The Tigers lost their spot in the four with two rounds to go when Geelong defeated them, and couldn't regain it finishing fifth again only half a game out.
But in 1967 Richmond were strong and finished on top of the ladder to enter the finals for the first time since 1947. They defeated Carlton in the second semi final to progress to their first grand final since 1944 and met Geelong. In a famous grand final the Tigers defeated the Cats to win their first flag since 1943.
In 1968 Richmond had a battle and just couldn't get into the four despite winning the last six games, finishing fifth by half a game. In 1969 they had another battle and this time with a win over Carlton in a high scoring game in the second last round they got into the four and held their place. The Tigers absolutely thrashed Geelong in the first semi final and then eliminated Collingwood in the preliminary final to meet Carlton in the grand final. Trailing by four points at three quarter time, Richmond got away in the final quarter to win their second flag in three years.
== 1970's ==
In 1970 another minor premiership hangover had the Tigers finishing sixth. Another rebound followed in 1971 but a costly loss to Footscray in Round 16 cost them the double chance and despite winning all their remaining games, St Kilda did as well and held second spot on percentage. Richmond disposed of Collingwood in the first semi final but St Kilda ended their season in the preliminary final. The Tigers took no chances in 1972, but they were competing with Carlton and the Blues nailed top spot. This was important now as the VFL introduced the final five and Richmond had to play Collingwood in the qualifying final. They won to meet Carlton in the second semi final - but the two sides played a draw. Richmond though won the replay to enter the grand final where they met Carlton again. But the Blues came out fast and in three quarters humiliated the Tigers with only a face saving exercise in the final quarter stopping a burial.
In 1973 Richmond were after revenge, but it looking like Collingwood would get in the way. The Tigers finished second and faced Carlton again in the qualifying final and were beaten. Richmond rebounded against St Kilda in the first semi final before managing to defeat Collingwood in the preliminary final to take on Carlton again in the grand final. This time the Tigers roughed Carlton up to stop a repeat of 1972 and they took the victory by 30 points. In 1974 Richmond finished on top of the ladder for the week off, and they met North Melbourne in the second semi final and took the direct route to the grand final. The Kangaroos returned, making it their first meeting in a grand final since 1905 in the VFA. And the Tigers would win their second flag in a row.
In 1975 Richmond finished fourth and defeated Collingwood in the elimination final by just four points. A win in the first semi final over Carlton had the Tigers looking dangerous but North Melbourne ended their season in the preliminary final. In 1976 though the wheels fell off with player departures causing a seventh place finish. Tom Hafey resigned as coach when he found out club power broker Graeme Richmond voted against him for the 1977 season, despite the majority of the board still wanting him.
In 1977 the club made the finals again finishing fourth and they defeated South Melbourne in the elimination final, only to run into North Melbourne in the first semi final. Another slip to seventh followed in 1978 and eighth in 1979 after another coaching change from Barry Richardson to Tony Jewell.
== 1980's ==
In 1980 the Tigers finished third and back in the finals where they defeated Carlton in the qualifying final and then Geelong in the second semi final to make the grand final for the first time since 1974. There they met Collingwood in the big one for the first time since 1929. This time the result would be very different as Richmond thrashed the Magpies to win the flag. But no one knew what trials were to come.
In 1981 the Tigers slipped to seventh and in a knee jerk reaction Jewell was sacked and replaced by Francis Bourke. Richmond responded on the field with a top of the ladder finish and a good win in the second semi final over Carlton to progress to the grand final. Carlton though came back and defeated them in the grand final - the last season decider for the Tigers for a long time.
In 1983 Richmond crashed to tenth on the ladder. In 1984 they rose to eighth where they stayed in 1985 before dropping back to tenth in 1986. But in 1987 they hit rock bottom - just when two new clubs joined the competition. The rot indeed began in round one when they were the club to welcome West Coast to the competition. Leading at three quarter time, the Tigers were run over in the final term and beaten. By the end of the season, Richmond were on the bottom of the ladder for the first time since 1960. Things improved in 1988 with the club finishing tenth, but the Tigers dropped back to the wooden spoon in 1989.
== 1990's ==
In 1990 Richmond were in big trouble. While Footscray were fighting a merger attempt with Fitzroy and over the border Port Adelaide were upsetting other clubs there, the Tigers were deep in financial trouble. On the field the club managed to scrounge a finish in eleventh spot in the 14 team competition, but off the field the Tigers needed help to "Save Our Skins". The drive stablised the club but on field success was needed to back it up. In 1991 it didn't look promising finishing thirteenth, with a repeat finish in 1992. It got worse in 1993 finishing fourteenth in a 15 team competition.
However things looked up in 1994. With a round to go Richmond were eighth and looking at finals in the first year of the final eight. But they had to beat finalist Geelong to confirm it or hope that Melbourne lost to wooden spooner Sydney. Neither happened and the Tigers finished ninth. 1995 though was the season they needed. A third place finish and Richmond were playing finals for the first time since 1982. But it didn't start well with a loss to North Melbourne in the first week. The Tigers bounced back and defeated Essendon in the semi finals, but their season ended in the preliminary finals when Geelong thrashed them.
In 1996 another final round loss cost Richmond a spot in the finals finishing ninth again. In 1997 the club slipped to thirteenth despite only missing the finals by half a game. In 1998 the club went within percentage of making the finals, not helped by a 76 point thrashing in the final round, finishing ninth again. A slip to twelfth in 1999 finished the century for the Tigers.
== 2000's ==
Richmond finished ninth yet again in 2000 as the new millenium began but a big season in 2001 had the Tigers in fourth place. Essendon set them back with a strong win in the qualifying final, but Richmond bounced back in the semi final beating Carlton. But Brisbane easily defeated them in the preliminary final. A drop to fourteenth followed in 2002 and then thirteenth in 2003. But the Tigers were back in the wooden spoon spot in 2004 for the first time since 1989. A rise to twelfth in 2005 was followed by another ninth place finish in 2006.
But in 2007 it was the wooden spoon again and in 2008 it was ninth again after a three win finish wasn't enough to earn a spot in the eight. A drop the fifteenth followed in 2009.
== 2010's ==
Richmond began the new decade with another fifteenth place in 2010 before a slight improvement in 2011 finishing twelfth - an effort repeated in 2012. But in 2013 the Tigers made the finals for the first time since 2001. However this started a run of finals outs as they lost the elimination final to Carlton. In 2014 Richmond managed to hold on to eighth spot in the last round with an inspired victory over eventual runners up Sydney, only to fall foul of Port Adelaide in the elimination final by 57 points. And in 2015 the Tigers finished fifth and were eliminated by North Melbourne. A drop in 2016 to thirteenth seemed to put out the light.
But in 2017 Richmond were back and finished third. A strong 51 point over Geelong in the qualifying final gave them the week off and a preliminary final against West Sydney. The Tigers managed a comfortable 36 point victory there, and entered their first grand final since 1982 against Adelaide. As the Crows had finished on top of the ladder, Richmond were forced to wear their away strip of yellow with a black sash. But after a slow start the Tigers would not be denied and roared to their first flag since 1980 to the tune of 48 points.
In 2018 there was no premiership hangover. Richmond finished on top of the ladder only losing four games and got the week off again taking care of Hawthorn. But in the preliminary final the Tigers were stunned by Collingwood and went down by 39 points. But they returned again in 2019 finishing third and winning again in the qualifying final, this time over Brisbane in convincing fashion. The week off led to a preliminary final against Geelong, and a victory by 19 points to enter their second grand final in three years. There they met grand final debutante's West Sydney and unfortunately for the game it was a massacre. The Tigers won easily by 89 keeping the Giants to three goals.
== 2020 ==
Richmond won the season opener against Carlton before the season went into COVID-19 shut down until June. The return wasn't convincing with a low scoring draw against Collingwood. Losses to Hawthorn and St Kilda dropped the Tigers to fourteenth but they recovered their spot in the eight with three straight wins before West Sydney upended them to leave them ninth. However Richmond recovered and only lost one more game for the home and away season (to eventual minor premiers Port Adelaide) to finish third yet again.
The finals this time though got off to a bad start with a 15 point loss to Brisbane. With most finals being played at the Gabba because of COVID-19, the Lions seemed to be the favourites. The Tigers though weren't bowed yet and at Carrara they bounced back with a 31 point win over St Kilda leading to a preliminary final meeting with Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval. The loss in the home and away season still rung loud, and the Tigers rose up and knocked off the Power by 6 points to get to the grand final. Geelong had upended Brisbane to meet Richmond in the first ever grand final played outside Victoria, at the Gabba. The Cats were better in the first half, but the Tigers fought back and with a fine last quarter they picked up their second flag in a row and their third in four years.
== 2021 ==
Two good wins to open the 2021 hid what would be a poor season for the Tigers. The rot began with a round 3 45 point loss to Sydney. There was a recovery with a 2 point loss only to the strong Port Adelaide and then a thumping win over St Kilda. A loss to a rampaging Melbourne was followed by the Tigers handing the Western Bulldogs their first loss for the season and it seemed the tide was turning. But then a hiding at the hands Geelong and only a 4 point win over West Sydney was followed by a loss Brisbane - and Richmond were out of the eight. A rebounding win over Adelaide restored them to eighth place but they would stay there going into the bye. And after that three straight losses had them out again - and they would stay out. The Tigers would only win two more games for 2021 and play a draw to finish twelfth, missing the finals for the first time since 2016.
== 2022 ==
Richmond would make a tardy start to start 2022, winning two games but losing four in the first six rounds. In twelfth spot, the Tigers hit a purple patch winning four on the trot to enter the eight. A narrow loss to Sydney heading into the bye stopped that and put them out again. Richmond wouldn't be bowed and won two after the bye to get their spot back but then Geelong threw them out again. A good win over West Coast put them back but that was followed by two losses and a draw. The draw had them out of the eight yet again, but then the Tigers came home with a wet sail. Two wins had them back in the eight again and two more had them finishing seventh.
The elimination final though was against Brisbane at the Gabbe and the Lions ended Richmond's season albeit by just two points.
== 2023 ==
Much was made of the opening round draw with Carlton given the hype surrounding the Blues. A win over Adelaide was next, but then it all fell down with five straight losses to crash to sixteenth on the ladder. The Tigers tried to recover with wins over West Coast and Geelong, but that was followed by two more losses. Three wins then had Richmond in ninth spot but the bye caused a drop to twelfth. It was a struggle from there with the Tigers getting no higher than eleventh with four wins but five losses. The final round loss to Port Adelaide left them in thirteenth place.
== Reserves ==
Richmond were a part of the VFL Reserves competition from it's formation in 1919. They won flags in 1929, 1946, 1954, 1955, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1977 and 1997 before the competition ended after the 1999 season. In 2000 the Tigers fielded a stand alone reserves team in the VFL before aligning themselves with Coburg in 2001. This arrangment continued until 2013 without success and from 2014 Richmond fielded a stand alone team again. This would be beneficial in 2019 when the Tigers won the VFL premiership over Williamstown.
Category:Australian FL clubs