When I was young, I had a generous godmother whose family were diehard Richmond supporters.
I went to many Richmond games and to all their 1970s finals. I saw all their great victories. Richmond were strong, hard, proud and expected to win.
They won four premierships between 1969 and 1980. I was often in the rooms after games. I met some glorious Richmond people: Royce Hart, Francis Bourke, Geoff Raines, David Cloke, Neil Balme, Kevin Sheedy, Dale ‘Flea’ Weightman, Michael Roach and of course ‘Hungry’, Kevin Bartlett.
Richmond were a powerhouse. A fighting fury and they knew it.
Then, like in end of The Great Gatsby, the party was over.
In the 1980s, ’90s and 2000s, the cupboard was bare. Richmond copped some absolute floggings. They had 36 years in the wilderness.
In 2015, the headlines said Richmond have not won a final for 14 years. They must win.
But they were beaten by North Melbourne. This meant that it was a fourth straight final loss. The demoralised club did not even make the finals the next year. The Richmond head coach’s office had a revolving door. Their current coach Damien Hardwick was perennially down for replacement.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
During this miserable time, surely the fans would have disappeared. Some disillusioned, some died of old age, some died of heartbreak.
It is hard for fathers to push their team’s colours on their kids when the team never makes the finals, and if they do, always lose them. The fans were humble, very quiet and had low expectations.
Then in 2017 it happened, the miracle of the Crouching Tiger.
They were convincingly beaten by the powerhouse Carlton in the first round. Then to the surprise of all – especially the long suffering Richmond supporters – they started to win.
Sitting at 50-50 halfway through the season, they won nine of the last ten. Then they finally won a final, thrashing Geelong. They beat the GWS at the MCG – not that hard – and finally belted Adelaide to take the premiership.
They were back. They had new heroes. There was Bachar Houli, Alex Rance, Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and even their coach Hardwick. The demand for tickets at the finals was enormous.
In 2018, crowds were huge. The membership exceeds 100,000. This is one tenth of the memberships of all the clubs combined.
So how did they do it? How did they keep and even grow their fan numbers?
The Western Bulldogs were never able to match Richmond fan numbers and they had a similar spell in the wilderness.
And are the Tigers back.
The 2018 campaign ended just one unlucky loss away from a flag.
In 2019, they have injuries, they are sitting on fifth, but the fans know the fighting fury will come hard in the finals and take another flag.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Matisse is a great player but needs to hit his 3’s to become a starter
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Best comment.
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Get a life mate it’s pitiful. I love my club too with passion but really if you cannot take a little bit of tongue in cheek humour you are just sad.
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
They weren't beaten by Carlton in the first Round, they thrashed them and were top of the ladder after Round 1. Also, Carlton weren't a powerhouse in 2017. They finished 16th.
Ron The Bear
Roar Rookie
Almost like an accident...
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
They have had a purple patch.
Ron The Bear
Roar Rookie
Was responding to a claim that the 2017 flag is "asterisked". Richmond has franked the form.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
You obviously didn't comprehend what I wrote. I wasn't referring to the supporters but the players. As far as success goes it just depends how far you wish to go back. Since the original teams started playing football, Geelong has won 7 in the VFA, the original competition, 6 in the VFL and 3 in the AFL. In any case IMO it is pointless to go back before 1930, when the Argus system was used.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
I’ve never questioned Geelong’s vastly superior recent record. Merely pointing out that Richmond, despite everything, still has an enviable level of support. Far greater than Geelong’s. Where these supporters come from or why, doesn’t matter. As for clubs songs, what about “We are Geelong, the greatest team of all”?! No they’re not. Not even close. Who came up with that gem? Even with a ten year head-start on Richmond, they’ve been less successful. Let alone the fact they’ve almost been lapped by the likes of Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, & Hawthorn over the journey.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Whilst true Geelong has less registered supporters than Richmond, the only thing that shows is Richmond had a lot more disappointed supporters for a lot more of the time than Geelong. If one went instead by on field success by every measure this century, then Geelong is so far ahead, Richmond would need an interstellar starship to catch up. Richmond is just another hybrid team like most Victorian clubs these days, sadly, whilst Geelong is the only genuine team left. It actually has players from Geelong. Richmond's club song should start with, "We're from everywhere but tigerland."
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Go Yattuzzi B-) I think the problem for Richmond was their impatience for success. Their fans demanded constant success and eventually they tore the club apart. At the time Graeme Richmond was probably the best administrator in the league and one of only a couple who drove Richmond’s success, but years of success were tossed out without regard. Actually, it was a bit like Carlton today.
Raimond
Roar Guru
This is Paul’s best character yet.
Cat
Roar Guru
Last year and the year before have no bearing on this year. There are no bonus points carried over from previous years.
Ron The Bear
Roar Rookie
Richmond has won 38 games of their last 50 - six more than any other team. They also rank #1 in points for and #18 in points against for that period. Clearly a very well-performed club in recent times. You're right, it's just your opinion, and it ain't worth much.
Peter Warrington
Guest
generally opinions require some thought
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Many were so used to failing, it just became normalised. It was perennial disappointment. But, despite all the horror stories & false dawns since 1982, I always knew the supporter base was still there. Just waiting for something to happen. Only Collingwood & at times, Carlton, can match them for support. Clubs like Geelong are Pygmy by comparison.
Billbob
Roar Rookie
My apologies......I do respect your opinions and love of the game
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
This is a rather harsh comment to a delicate little kittens first effort. I am unsure why you took offence. I certainly wasn’t being anti Richmond. In fact your staunch support and absolute faith in Richmond inspired me to write.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Thomas? Timothy? Someone was confused.
Tom
Guest
5 flags between 1967-1980 Need to insert sarcasm emoji or something re: Carlton error. Membership numbers - 2014 66k, 2015 70k 2016 72k 2017 75k 2018/19 100k Plenty were heartbroken, some may have died, but more hopped on board.