Editing Richmond Football Club (section)

==History==
{{Recentism|date=September 2023}}
{{See also|List of Richmond Football Club seasons}}

=== Origins and VFA years (1885–1907) ===
[[File:RoyalHotel1874.jpg|thumb|left|The Richmond Football Club was formed at a meeting at the Royal Hotel in Richmond in 1885]]
A short-lived football club named Richmond formed in 1860 with [[Tom Wills]], one of the founders of [[Australian rules football]], serving as its inaugural secretary and captain.<ref>Blainey (1990), p62.</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first1= Gillian|last1= Hibbins|first2= Trevor|last2= Ruddell|title= 'A Code of Our Own': Celebrating 150 Years of the Rules of Australian Football|url= http://www.mcc.org.au/~/media/Files/Yorker-Issue%2039_Autumn2009_low-res.pdf|publisher = Melbourne Cricket Club Library|journal= The Yorker|year= 2009|issue= 39 |page=8}}</ref> Wills' cousin [[H. C. A. Harrison]] captained Richmond briefly in the early 1860s before moving to [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]].<ref>Mancini & Hibbins (1987), p119.</ref> This club was disbanded in 1871<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183022376|title=Richmond's Best Since 1921-Expect Season;s Honors|newspaper=Sporting Globe |date=6 May 1931|page=9|via=Trove}}</ref> and has no continuity to the present club. A number of teams formed in Richmond during the game's rapid expansion in the 1870s and early 1880s.<ref>Blainey (1990), p64.</ref> However, all played at a junior level and it was considered an anomaly that Richmond, one of Melbourne's most prominent suburbs, did not boast a senior side. The wait ended when the Richmond Football Club was officially formed at the Royal Hotel in Richmond on 20 February 1885.<ref>Hansen (1992), p. 28.</ref> A successful application for immediate admission to the [[Victorian Football Association]] (VFA) followed. The club shared the [[Punt Road Oval]] with the [[Monash Tigers|Richmond Cricket Club]], one of the strongest cricket clubs in Australia which had been playing on the ground since 1856.<ref>[http://www.richmondcc.com.au/content.aspx?file=216|14108q. Richmond Cricket Club]. Retrieved 7 August 2007.</ref>

At first the team wore blue [[guernsey (Australian rules football)|guernsey]]s and caps with yellow and black stripes in the style of the Richmond Cricket Club. The football club soon adopted yellow and black as its official colours. From the 1890s the supporters and players were often referred to as "Richmondites"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139143174 |title=Football Notes. |newspaper=[[The Australasian]] |volume=XLIX |issue=1279 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=4 October 1890 |access-date=2 August 2023 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and, according to ''The Age'' in 1890,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196970621 |title=Football. |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=10,991 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=17 May 1890 |access-date=2 August 2023 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> ''The Leader'' in 1899 <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196509958 |title=RICHMOND (35) BEAT WEST MELBOURNE (21). |newspaper=[[The Leader (Melbourne)|Leader]] |issue=2265 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=3 June 1899 |access-date=2 August 2023 |page=17 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and former club secretary William Maybury<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136623128 |title=Victorian Football Memories |newspaper=[[The Referee (newspaper)|The Referee]] |issue=1940 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=14 May 1924 |access-date=2 August 2023 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> the team were occasionally called "Wasps." The moniker by which they are now known, the "Tigers", was first adopted around 1908–10 period through the newspapers ''Punch''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176016641 |title=Football Gossip. |newspaper=[[Melbourne Punch|Punch]] |volume=CVIII |issue=2758 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=4 June 1908 |access-date=2 August 2023 |page=35 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and ''The Richmond Guardian''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article255867844 |title=Sundry Squibs. |newspaper=[[Richmond Guardian]] |issue=1774 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=7 May 1910 |access-date=2 August 2023 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

During the late 1880s, Richmond struggled to make an impression in the VFA, and after a promising season in 1888 (when they finished fifth with eleven wins), the club slipped backwards, in the process losing players to more successful sides. As the local economy slipped into severe [[Recession|depression]] in the early 1890s and the crowds began to dwindle, some of the VFA's strongest clubs began to agitate for a reform of the competition. Richmond was not considered part of this elite group, which usually [[Voting bloc|voted as a ''bloc'']] at VFA meetings.

In 1896, Richmond [[wiktionary:forfeit|walked off the field]] in a match against [[Sydney Swans|South Melbourne]] to protest the umpiring, and later in the season, the Tigers had their half-time score annulled against [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] when it was discovered that they had too many men on the ground. In the closing three weeks of the season, Richmond's cut of the gate takings amounted to just five pounds, and they finished the season with the wooden spoon.

[[File:Alec Redmond Richmond.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Alec Edmond captained Richmond from 1901 to his retirement in 1907]]
In October 1896, the cabal of six strong clubs broke with the association to form the [[VFL/AFL|Victorian Football League]] (VFL). As a struggling club with a poor following, Richmond was not invited to join the new league. Richmond's performances did not immediately improve in the depleted VFA until the turn of the century.

The Tigers were boosted by a significant country recruit in 1901. [[George Sidney Johnson|George "Mallee" Johnson]] was an instant sensation and the first true star player at the club. Richmond leapt to third place and then in 1902, with Johnson dominating the ruck, Richmond entered the closing weeks of the season neck and neck with [[Port Melbourne Football Club|Port Melbourne]] at the head of the ladder, but Port Melbourne faltered against [[Williamstown Football Club|Williamstown]] to hand Richmond its first flag. Having missed a potential bonanza from a premiership play-off, the VFA decided to emulate the VFL and introduce a finals series in 1903, a fateful decision for the Tigers. After recruiting the competition's leading goalkicker, [[Jack Hutchinson (footballer, born 1880)|Jack Hutchinson]], and finishing the season as [[Minor premiership|minor premier]], Richmond lost both finals and were [[runner-up]].

The following season, the club became embroiled in a feud with umpire Allen, whom the Tigers accused of failing to curb field invasions and, in particular, the dubious tactics of arch-rival [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]]. In the 10 September 1904 match, during which a significant number of Richmond players sustained serious gashes, and despite the earnest requests of the Richmond players, field umpire Allen refused to exercise his legitimate, official power to check the boots of the North Melbourne players for "spikes" on the soles of their boots.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/189428099 Association Match: North Melbourne (5.11) beat Richmond (4.15): Another Great Struggle, ''The Age'', (Monday, 12 September 1904), p.9.]</ref> When the two clubs were scheduled to meet in the [[1904 VFA Grand Final]], Richmond announced that they wouldn't play with Allen as umpire. The VFA called Richmond's bluff, and appointed Allen as umpire for the match, meaning that the Grand Final was scratched and North Melbourne won the premiership on forfeit.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189426636 The Football Trouble: Why the Richmond-North Melbourne Match was not Played, ''The Age'', (Wednesday, 5 October 1904), p.8.]</ref><ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article263638899 The Association Football Premiership, ''The Richmond Guardian'', (Saturday, 8 October 1904), p.2.]</ref><ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10344347 Football: North Melbourne—Richmond Fiasco: Richmond Club Censured, ''The Argus'', (Saturday, 8 October 1904), p.13.]</ref>

Richmond were now openly at odds with the VFA, and matters failed to improve in the next few years. The club was campaigning against violence (both on-field and among the crowd), ungentlemanly conduct and poor sportsmanship, issues that plagued the VFA to a far greater extent than the rival VFL since the 1896 split. Richmond cultivated links with some VFL clubs by playing practice matches against them. Richmond knew that they were a major asset to the VFA, had built up a large following and played on one of the best grounds in the competition, where they remained unbeaten for five years. In 1905, Richmond confirmed their status with a second premiership, this time overcoming bitter rivals [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]], "Mallee" Johnson had moved to Carlton, but youngster [[Charlie Ricketts]] dominated the season and won plaudits among the pressmen, who voted him the best player in the VFA.

However, Ricketts was also lost to the VFL and injury hit the club hard. In 1906–07, the Tigers played finals without looking likely to win the flag. The club earned a rebuke from the VFA for scheduling a practice match against Geelong before the 1907 season, then went ahead with the commitment and earned further censure. Later in the year it became clear that the [[VFL/AFL|VFL]] wanted to expand its competition and Richmond won a place ahead of North Melbourne, which had been strengthened by an amalgamation with the bankrupt West Melbourne as part of their bid. Richmond were granted admission to the VFL on 18 October 1907.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204996291 |title=FOOTBALL LEAGUE. |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=16,413 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=19 October 1907 |access-date=2 August 2023 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

===Entry into the VFL (1908–1944)===
[[File:FrankTudorPEO.jpg|thumb|right|160px|The Hon. Frank Tudor, federal leader of the [[Australian Labor Party|ALP]], was president of Richmond during World War I]]
The first few seasons in the VFL were less than spectacular. Although the club turned up some star players, it let a lot of talent leave and the administration was unstable after [[George Henry Bennett|George Bennett]]'s death at the end of the 1908 season. In 1916, the side won its first wooden spoon while also playing in the finals for the first time – [[World War I]] having reduced the competition to just four clubs, finals qualification was automatic.

Finally, in 1919, Richmond made their first [[AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]] appearance, losing to [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]]. Richmond stoked a rivalry with Collingwood by recruiting their former skipper [[Dan Minogue]] as playing coach and gained vengeance by beating Collingwood in the [[1920 VFL Grand Final]] to secure a first flag in the big league. This was followed by an even better performance the next year. The only club that continued to beat Richmond on a regular basis was Carlton. Finishing [[List of Australian Football League minor premiers|minor premier]] with only one loss for the season in 1921, Carlton were the hottest premiership favourite, yet Richmond managed to beat them in two classic finals matches played over successive weeks to go back-to-back.

[[File:Richmond fc 1920.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Richmond team that won its first VFL premiership in 1920]]
The rest of the decade saw four more Grand Final appearances, all of which would end in frustration. From 1927 to 1929 Richmond became the first club in the VFL to lose three consecutive Grand Finals, all of which were to neighbouring archrivals, Collingwood.

[[File:Performance Chart AFL RIC.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly ladder positions for Richmond in [[Australian Football League|VFL/AFL]]]]
The next VFL flag came in 1932, with Richmond's triumph over Carlton in a tough encounter which saw Richmond [[Centre line (football)|wingman]] [[Allan Geddes]] play the second half with a broken jaw. Another premiership came in 1934, this time against South Melbourne's famed "Foreign Legion", avenging Richmond's loss in the [[1933 VFL Grand Final]].

[[File:Jack Dyer.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Richmond legend [[Jack Dyer]] played 19 consecutive seasons for the club, scoring 443 goals]]
Prior to the commencement of the 1940 season, internal problems were brewing between the key personalities at the club. Some felt that the uneven performance of the team was due to [[Percy Bentley]]'s coaching methods, and that he should be replaced. [[Jack Dyer]] walked out on the club and threatened to play in the VFA after his father, a committeeman who was involved with the anti-Bentley faction, lost his position at the board elections. Finally, the matter was resolved and Bentley kept his job, while Dyer returned to training on the eve of the season. The problems appeared to have been solved when Richmond won the semi-final against Melbourne to go straight into the [[1940 VFL Grand Final]]. However, Melbourne reversed this result with a crushing win to pinch the premiership. Richmond had been out-thought by their old mentor [[Frank 'Checker' Hughes]], who had assigned a tagger to negate Dyer. Dyer was furious that Bentley had done nothing to prevent his opponent taking him out of the game. The Richmond committee agreed with this assessment, so when Bentley (after retiring as a player) attempted to negotiate a higher fee to continue his coaching tenure, he was rebuffed. Incensed, Bentley quit Punt Road and moved to Carlton as coach, adding further spice to an already fierce rivalry between the two clubs.

Despite the tribulations created by the Second World War, Richmond was able to maintain a commendable level of consistency on the field. The club had quite a lot of players in reserved occupations who remained at home, while the administration became adept at securing star players who were temporarily in Melbourne on war service.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}}{{example needed|date=February 2014}} Dyer was a fearsome presence in his role as playing coach, but he was unable to improve Richmond's ability to win finals matches. A loss in the [[1942 VFL Grand Final]] to Essendon (after starting as favourite) meant that over the previous 18 years, Richmond had won two flags but been runner-up eight times. [[Jack Titus]] set a still unbeaten record of playing in six losing Grand Final teams. In 1943, Richmond broke through to beat Essendon in a thrilling [[1943 VFL Grand Final|Grand Final]] by five points, a win that the club dedicated to ex-player Bill Cosgrove, an [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] pilot who had been killed in action a few weeks before the match. But another Grand Final loss followed in [[1944 VFL Grand Final|1944]], when Dyer's team failed against Fitzroy on a very hot day.

===Tough times at Tigerland (1945–1965)===
In the immediate post-war era, despite an influx of excellent new players, Richmond struggled to make the four, appearing in the finals only once, in 1947. Dyer continued on as coach for three years after his playing retirement at the end of 1949, but was asked to retire by the committee who felt the club needed a shake up. Under a succession of coaches in the 1950s, With the demands of potential players increasing with each passing year, the club refused to allocate sufficient funds to recruit and they failed to replace star players as they retired. When stalwarts such as [[Des Rowe]] and dual-[[Brownlow Medal]]list [[Roy Wright (footballer)|Roy Wright]] left, the team slumped dramatically and finished with a [[Wooden spoon (award)|wooden spoon]] in 1960.

In 1962 [[Graeme Richmond]] was appointed Secretary of the club, Richmond was the under 19's coach who had been around the club since the early 1950s as a junior player until knee injury stopped him from playing so he took on coaching. Graeme understood that for Richmond to improve so would the recruiting. A shrewd businessman, Richmond was able to sign young recruits for bargain like fees. [[Royce Hart]] was given a suit and six shirts, and Kevin Bartlett simply walked in off the street. Graeme kept a close eye on the success former player Tom Hafey was having with Shepparton in the [[Goulburn Valley Football League]]. When coach Len Smith had a heart attack in 1965, the club appointed Jack Titus to serve as interim coach until a replacement could be found. Hafey was encouraged to apply, and the decision came down to Hafey and former club captain Ron Branton. Many expected Branton to get the job. However, Graeme Richmond saw something special in Hafey and he was appointed coach for the 1966 season.

===Success through Hafey Era (1966–1982)===
[[File:Kevin Bartlett.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of Kevin Bartlett outside the MCG]]
1966 heralded the start of the [[Tom Hafey]] era. Hafey, a former player of the club, was appointed coach and brought with him a couple of quality young footballers from northern Victoria. Out of the Goulburn Valley came [[Dick Clay]] from Kyabram and [[Francis Bourke]] from Nathalia. Further afield were [[Doug Strang]] and [[John Perry (footballer)|John Perry]] from Albury and Wodonga.

On his return to Richmond, Hafey found the team had acquired a number of young, high quality players, [[Kevin Bartlett (Australian rules footballer)|Kevin Bartlett]] was a skinny 17 year old who lived locally and had walked in and asked for a tryout. [[Michael Green (Australian rules footballer)|Mike Green]] followed Kevin a year later. Even so, he quickly put his stamp on the club, bringing intensity and desire to reach the top. Although he acknowledged the ideas and tactical approach of Len Smith (who remained at the club as a selector and consultant), Hafey opted for what became his trademark style: kick the ball long and quickly into the forward line. He raised the bar for fitness among his players,[4] extending pre-season training and introducing a third training night during the week. Richmond quickly became known for being the fittest team in the competition.

Richmond began 1966 strongly. A month before the finals, they hit the top of the ladder for the first time since 1951 and seemed certain to play in September. However, two losses dropped the Tigers to fifth place with thirteen wins and a draw. Richmond dismissed a number of players, replacing them with new players such as [[Royce Hart]], Kevin Sheedy and [[Francis Bourke]].

Richmond dominated the 1967 season, running out winners in a classic Grand Final against Geelong. In his first two years, the team lost only seven games and Hafey had gone from an unknown coach in the bush to the toast of the football world. In hindsight, the 1967 premiership marked a turning point for the game. The Tigers were fitter than any team that had gone before and were the highest scoring team since 1950. Australian football, after two decades of defensive-based play, was about to enter an era of high scoring, aided by rule changes, new tactics and better standards of fitness. They won the 1967 flag in a thrilling encounter with Geelong, ending a 24-year premiership drought.

The Tigers started the 1968 season slowly. They rallied to win the last six games, but missed the finals. When the Tigers were again lethargic in mid-1969, accusations of under-achievement arose and rumours that Hafey was on the way out circulated. The players rallied behind Hafey and finished the season strong, taking fourth place. The team won all three finals, beat the much fancied Carlton in the [[1969 VFL Grand Final]] by 25 points.

After missing the playoffs in 1970, Hafey took the Tigers to the finals for the next five years. Basing the team's strategy around all-out attack had drawbacks. Richmond were dominant in 1972 and were hot favourites in the [[1972 VFL Grand Final]] against Carlton. However, Carlton stunned Richmond in a game of ridiculous high scoring. Even Richmond equalled the then record highest score in a Grand Final of 22.18 (150), but Carlton beat it with 28.9 (177). Richmond got their revenge in an intensely physical clash in the [[1973 VFL Grand Final]] and went back-to-back in [[1974 VFL Grand Final|1974]] with a strong win against a resurgent North Melbourne.

By now, the aggressive attitude of the club both on and off the field had created resentment toward the club. A number of incidents during the 1973 Grand Final – the Windy Hill brawl, the attempted recruitment of [[John Pitura]] from South Melbourne and a poor reaction to Kevin Bartlett's failure to win the Brownlow medal – all focussed negative attention on the club. Hafey, however, used the resentment to his advantage, telling his players "it's Richmond against the world".

Richmond showed signs of ageing in 1975, when they lost in the preliminary final. Triple Brownlow medallist, [[Ian Stewart (Australian rules footballer)|Ian Stewart]] retired, [[Paul Sproule]] returned to Hobart, [[Brian Roberts (Australian rules footballer)|Brian Roberts]] and two others were part of the John Pitura trade. A raft of other player departures made for a poor 1976 season, Hart spent most of the year nursing a knee and Dick Clay opted to retire. The Tigers finishing seventh, Hafey's worst ever result. Internally the Richmond board bickering had flared into the public domain. It took a majority vote for Hafey to be reappointed for 1977, but not unanimously (he had no contract with Richmond, instead being appointed on a year-to-year basis). When it leaked that [[Graeme Richmond]], the club's powerbroker, had voted against Hafey's reappointment Hafey immediately resigned.

The club appointed dual premiership player [[Barry Richardson (Australian footballer)|Barry Richardson]] as coach for two seasons before he was replaced by Tony Jewell. Richmond won its next premiership under Jewell with a then record-breaking margin of 81 points over arch-rivals Collingwood in [[1980 VFL Grand Final|1980]]. After reaching and losing the [[1982 VFL Grand Final]], it has been a rocky road for Richmond who have struggled to come to grips with the rules and regulations of a modernised VFL, including the [[AFL Draft|draft]] and [[salary cap]]. The successes of the early 1980s were bought at high financial cost through expensive recruiting, and were followed by severe cut backs that saw several top players depart.

===Recruiting war (1983–1986)===
Still smarting from the loss of star players to Collingwood, Richmond set themselves for war with Collingwood in 1984 by signing three of their players: [[John Annear]], [[Craig Stewart (Australian footballer)|Craig Stewart]] and [[Phil Walsh (Australian footballer)|Phil Walsh]]. Not only were there big contracts and transfer fees to pay, but the costs of an expensive court action as well.

Richmond also signed a number of mediocre players on big contracts, and the club's financial situation took a battering. With the team failing to improve, a challenge to the committee was brewing and Richmond's traditional political stability threatened. The rebel group, organised by long-time servant Bill Durham, convinced former player and coach [[Barry Richardson (Australian rules footballer)|Barry Richardson]] to be leader. An election in late 1984 failed to clarify the situation.

Ian Wilson held on to the presidency into the new year. When the one hundredth birthday of the club arrived in February 1985, there was too much dissension to mark the moment fittingly. Eventually, Wilson handed over to Richardson, who had selected his former premiership teammate [[Paul Sproule]] to return from [[Tasmania]] and take over the coaching position on a guaranteed contract.

As the season progressed with Richmond still struggling, Sproule came under pressure. Richardson guaranteed his position, but at the end of the year, the committee overruled Richardson and sacked Sproule. Incensed, Richardson walked out of Punt Road, which was in turmoil again. Desperately, Richmond turned back to [[Tony Jewell (footballer)|Tony Jewell]], who was appointed coach for a second time, the only man in the club's history to get a second go at the job. Jewell later commented on the destruction wrought on the club during his four-year absence: "the supporters were gone, the members were gone, the money was gone, ... a real shame."

With the competition set to expand, Richmond made a number of misguided moves in 1986. To fill the vacancy left by Richardson, Richmond wooed high-flying West Australian entrepreneur [[Alan Bond (businessman)|Alan Bond]] to become president. Bond came with an agenda to raise money for the club by listing on the stockmarket and relocating to [[Brisbane]]. When the latter plan was revealed in the media, a furious reaction from supporters and high-profile club personalities buried the proposal almost immediately. Early in 1987, Bond's tenure at the club ended in farce when he resigned without presiding over a single game. The off-field confusion was reflected in the players' performance as Richmond slumped to only its second wooden spoon in 70 years.

===''Save Our Skins'' and a return to the finals (1987–1995)===
[[File:Matthew Richardson media.jpg|thumb|upright|Debuting for Richmond in 1993, Matthew Richardson went on to become one of the league's leading goal kickers.]]
Although the new president, ex-captain [[Neville Crowe]], had stabilised the club and scored a coup by persuading club legend [[Kevin Bartlett (Aussie Rules footballer)|Kevin Bartlett]] to coach, the club managed to stay solvent by cutting expenses to the bone and paying only two-thirds of the allowable salary cap. But there was no money for recruiting to improve an impoverished playing list. The club struggled to come to terms with the draft after its inception in 1986, and made a number of poor choices—notably, the number one pick in 1987 was used on a player who had only four games with Richmond.

Finally, with the economy in serious recession and interest rates touching seventeen per cent, Richmond's creditors came knocking. At one point, an attempt was made to seize the club's 1973 and 1974 premiership trophies as securities for unpaid debts, an embarrassing situation. For a number of years, the exact amount that the club owed was not publicly known. After Bartlett came Allan Jeans, who then passed the job to ex-Richmond premiership player [[John Northey]] for 1993. Northey returned the team to the simple long-kicking style of the halcyon days under the legendary Tom Hafey. Along with some draft concessions granted by the AFL, Northey's efforts gradually improved Richmond. The team fumbled an opportunity to make the 1994 finals, then opened [[1995 AFL season|1995]] with its best start to a season in 75 years and eventually made it to the preliminary final. With a talented playing list and a strong administration led by Leon Daphne (Richmond's first president from the corporate world, the Alan Bond farce aside), Richmond looked set to become regular finalists again.

===Lost opportunities (1996–2004)===
The anticipated success failed to materialise, partly because Richmond allowed the coaching position to again become unstable. With over a year still to run on his contract, John Northey demanded a contract extension that the club refused. This was because of a rumour that some people with an association with the club were pursuing Essendon coach and former Richmond premiership player [[Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)|Kevin Sheedy]]. So Northey walked out on Richmond and accepted a longer-term contract to coach the [[Brisbane Bears]]. Richmond, caught short, appointed the Bears' ex-coach [[Robert Walls]] for 1996. After several humiliating thrashings in 1997, [[Robert Walls]] became the first Richmond coach to be sacked mid-season. After two-and-a-half seasons under [[Jeff Gieschen]], the club appointed ex-St Kilda captain [[Danny Frawley]]. After a Preliminary Final appearance in Frawley's second season, Richmond overestimated the strength of the list and settled for trading for established players rather than drafting youth. Over the next three seasons, the team managed just 18 wins. The administration continued to support Frawley and ensured that he would see out his contract, a far cry from the way many of his predecessors were treated. However, midway through the 2004 season (a season in which Richmond only managed 4 wins, and lost their last 14 H&A matches), Frawley announced he would be relinquishing his role as Richmond coach at seasons' end.

===Beginning to rebuild and another wooden spoon (2005–2007)===
{{See also|Richmond Football Club season 2007}}
Under newly appointed head coach, [[Terry Wallace]], the 2005 pre-season brought renewed optimism at the club. The Tigers held the no. 1 draft pick, selecting [[Brett Deledio]] who was touted as a future star and leader. However, the Tigers' first match of the season (against [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]]), quickly dashed that hope, as they were thrashed by 62 points. However, this loss would spark a change in the Tigers, and in the next 8 weeks of the season, they would go on to win 7 matches (the one exception being a 68-point loss at the hands of [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]] in Round 5). This included wins over the then-reigning premiers, [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]], and over then-runners up, the [[Brisbane Lions]]. Sitting pretty at 7 wins and 2 losses, and 3rd on the ladder, the impossible prospect of finals football loomed large. However, in the Round 10 match against [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]], star player [[Nathan G. Brown|Nathan Brown]] suffered a horrible leg injury, that would sideline him for the rest of the season. They went on to lose the match by 57 points, and would only register 3 more wins for the season (one of those was against eventual premiers the [[Sydney Swans]] by one point, who had a one-point win against [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] the round before), eventually finishing 12th.

2006, a year which many experts predicted continued improvement for the Tigers, saw them lose their first H&A match by 115 points, against the [[Western Bulldogs]], after which followed losses to St Kilda and [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]. By the end of Round 3, things were looking grim for the Tigers once again. However, just as they did in 2005, the Tigers would respond to their poor start by winning 8 of their next 11 matches, and by the end of Round 14, the Tigers were in the Top 8 by a game and percentage. However, their spot in the Top 8 would be short lived, as 4 straight losses between Rounds 15 and 18 would effectively end their finals chances. They finished the 2006 season in 9th place, with 11 wins and 11 losses.

After promising seasons in 2005 and 2006, it was expected that the Tigers would take the next step in 2007, and play finals football. After massive hype in the off-season, the Tigers had a terrible start to the 2007 season, losing their first 9 matches (this included suffering their biggest ever defeat, at the hands of eventual premiers [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]], by a whopping 157 points). Their first premiership points came in a draw against the [[Brisbane Lions]] in Round 10, and their first win of the season didn't come until Round 12 against fellow straggler [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]]. After Round 18 of the season, the Tigers had registered a mere 1 win, 1 draw, and 16 losses, and were looking like recording their worst ever recorded season. However, late-season victories over old rivals [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] in Round 19, and [[Essendon Bombers|Essendon]] in Round 21, saved them from this fate. They would eventually finish the year as wooden-spooners, with 3 wins, 1 draw, and 18 losses.

===Centenary (2008)===
After the end of the [[2007 AFL season|2007 season]], Richmond elected to delist [[Patrick Bowden]], [[Brent Hartigan]], [[Andrew Krakouer]] and [[Carl Peterson (Australian footballer)|Carl Peterson]]. These four joined another four players in leaving Punt Road—veteran [[Darren Gaspar]], [[Kent Kingsley]], [[Trent Knobel]] and [[Ray Hall (Australian footballer)|Ray Hall]]. While these players left the club [[Jake King]] and [[Angus Graham (footballer)|Angus Graham]] were elevated off the rookie list.

Next up came the [[2007 AFL Draft]], in which the Tigers recruited highly rated midfielder [[Trent Cotchin]] with their first pick (No. 2 overall), backman [[Alex Rance]] (pick No. 18 overall) and ruckman Dean Putt (pick No. 51 overall). Then, in the pre-season draft, they elected to pick [[David Gourdis]] with the number one pick. The Tigers also picked [[Clayton Collard]], [[Jarrod Silvester]], [[Tristan Cartledge]] and [[Cameron Howat]] for the rookie list. Cam Howat had previously been on the rookie list but was delisted then picked up again.

Richmond began the 2008 season with a surprise win over Carlton, but from Rounds 2 to 11, registered only two more wins (and a controversial draw against the Western Bulldogs). The club fought back in the latter half of the season, winning eight of its last 11 matches. However, this was not enough to reach the finals, as Richmond finished two premiership points short (and percentage) of 8th placed [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]].

=== Wallace era ends (2009) ===
At the start of 2009, Richmond was said to be rising as a team, and they would be in the eight .{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} They had recruited former [[Brownlow Medal]] winner [[Ben Cousins]] – who had previously been released by the West Coast Eagles due to drug trouble – and they had rising stars in [[Brett Deledio]] and [[Trent Cotchin]]. However, the club was beaten by 83 points in Round 1 by Carlton, and did not register a win until Round 5, against [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]]. With a record of 2–9 after eleven weeks, [[Terry Wallace]] stepped down as coach, having announced his intention during the previous week. [[Jade Rawlings]] was announced as caretaker senior coach; he adopted a youth policy for the remainder of the year, which saw experienced players [[Joel Bowden]] and [[Matthew Richardson (Australian rules footballer)|Matthew Richardson]] retire by the end of the year. Rawlings led Richmond to three wins and a draw from eleven games. Richmond finished fifteenth with a record of 5–16–1. On 25 August, [[Damien Hardwick]] was appointed to be the senior coach from 2010.

As Jade Rawlings, [[Craig McRae]] and [[Brian Royal]] left the Tigers assistant coaching panel, [[Brendon Lade]] and [[Justin Leppitsch]] were appointed as assistant coaches, leaving only [[Wayne Campbell]] as a previous Richmond assistant coach. [[Brendon Gale]] was also appointed CEO of the Tigers.

===New coach, new list and a new beginning (2010–2012)===
[[File:Damien Hardwick 2017.jpg|thumb|upright|Damien Hardwick coached Richmond from 2010 to 2023.]]
Richmond was not expected to be competitive in 2010, with many commentators predicting the team would win no more than four games. From the [[2009 AFL Draft]], the Tigers drafted seven new players, which included midfielder [[Dustin Martin]]. At the 2010 Pre-season Draft, Richmond recruited young key defender [[Dylan Grimes]], brother of Melbourne defender [[Jack Grimes (footballer)|Jack Grimes]].

[[Damien Hardwick]] selected a young team at the start of the season, with four debutants, and only three players ([[Ben Cousins]], [[Chris Newman (footballer)|Chris Newman]] and [[Troy Simmonds]]) over 25 in the Round 1 loss against [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]]. Richmond was winless after nine games, before a scrappy win over Port Adelaide in Round 10. This was the start of a turnaround in Richmond's form, with the team winning six out of eight games, to sit with a record of 6–12 after eighteen rounds. After losing the final four matches, Richmond finished fifteenth out of sixteen with a record of 6–16. Young key forward [[Jack Riewoldt]] finished the season with 78 goals, to win the [[Coleman Medal]].

Very early in the season, Richmond were criticised for "partying too much" in the wake of its winless start to the season; after the Round 3 loss to the [[Sydney Swans]], Richmond players were reported to be at the bar drinking and acting in a disorderly manner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ben-cousins-punched-drunken-teammate-daniel-connors-in-sydney-fracas/news-story/b512331c2d29ea784df46b868844cb84|title=Ben should have done better|date=12 April 2010|website=Herald Sun}}</ref>

Richmond continued to show improvement to finish 12th out of 17 teams in 2011 with eight wins and a draw.

[[Jack Riewoldt]] again led the goalkicking with 62 majors, down on his previous year's tally of 78. Young midfielder [[Trent Cotchin]] won his first [[Jack Dyer Medal]] with 236 votes.<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael |last=Gleeson |url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/cotchins-top-honour-for-yellow-and-black-20110913-1k7t0.html |title=Cotchin's top honour for yellow and black |work=The Age|location=Melbourne |date=14 September 2011 |access-date=1 March 2013}}</ref> Cotchin also polled the most votes of any Richmond player in the [[2011 Brownlow Medal]] count with 15 votes. [[Dustin Martin]] was next best, polling 12 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/brownlow/brownlow2011.html |title=AFL Tables – 2011 Brownlow Medal |publisher=AFL Tables|access-date=1 March 2013}}</ref>

Richmond's 2012 season did not see an improvement from the previous three years, as they lost 6 games by 12 points or less and finished 12th for the second year running. {{AFL GC}} also beat them, while trailing by ten points with less than a minute remaining, the Tigers produced what former [[Sydney Swans]] coach [[Paul Roos (Australian rules footballer)|Paul Roos]] labelled "the worst 47 seconds in footy" to lose by two points.<ref>[http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/former-sydney-swans-coach-paul-roos-analyses-richmond-implosion-against-gold-coast-suns-in-afl-clash/story-e6frf3e3-1226427744605 Former Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos analyses Richmond implosion against Gold Coast Suns], Fox Sports, 17 July 2012</ref> They did, however, defeat both of the eventual grand finalists {{AFL Haw}} and {{AFL Syd}} during the season, the only team to do so the entire year. 2012 also saw Richmond have its first Brownlow Medallist in over 40 years when Trent Cotchin polled 26 votes to be the joint winner with Hawthorn's [[Sam Mitchell (footballer)|Sam Mitchell]], due to a countback 4 years later after disqualified winner [[Jobe Watson]] was stripped of his medal due to the [[Essendon Football Club supplements saga]].

===Return to finals (2013–2016)===
[[File:Richmond players run out.jpg|thumb|left|Captain [[Trent Cotchin]] leads Richmond out onto the ground before a match against {{AFL GWS}} late in the [[2013 AFL season|2013 season]].]]
2013 saw Richmond claim a victory over [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] (making it one of only two clubs that season to defeat the eventual premiers) and go on to qualify for its first finals series in over a decade.<ref>[http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/08/11/richmond-sew-up-finals-spot/ Richmond sew up finals spot], ''The Roar'', 11 August 2013</ref> However, before 94,690 fans—the largest week-one crowd since the VFL/AFL adopted its current finals system—Richmond lost to Carlton in the first elimination final.<ref>[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-09-08/tiger-tough-not-enough "Feel-good Tigers must harden up"]. AFL News 8 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.</ref> Also that year, [[Peggy O'Neal (lawyer)|Peggy O'Neal]], an American-born lawyer, became the AFL's first female club president when she got the position at Richmond.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8733406|title=Woman to lead Tigers in AFL first|publisher=Ninemsn|date=3 October 2013|access-date=3 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004233929/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8733406|archive-date=4 October 2013}}</ref>

After its drought-breaking finals appearance the previous year, Richmond failed to live up to expectations in the first half of the 2014 season, losing 10 of its first 13 matches and dropping to 16th place on the ladder. Despite public sentiment that the season was lost, the club rallied behind a five-goal performance by Cotchin to win against St Kilda.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2014/141520140628.html|title=AFL Tables – St Kilda v Richmond – Sat, 28-Jun-2014 2:10 PM – Match Stats|website=afltables.com}}</ref> It catalysed a nine-match winning streak, with a Round 23 victory against eventual grand-finalists Sydney raising Richmond to 8th on the ladder and putting the club into its first back-to-back finals appearance since 1975. A 57-point loss to Port Adelaide in an elimination final knocked Richmond out in the first week of the finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2014/09/12/mastermind-season-review-richmond-tigers/|title=Mastermind season review: Richmond Tigers}}</ref> Cotchin won the Jack Dyer Medal for the third time in four years, making him the youngest Richmond player to win three club best and fairest awards.<ref>[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-09-30/cotch-wins-dyer-medal-no3], ''AFL Media'', 30 September 2014.</ref>

Richmond faced the prospect of another disappointing season in 2015, losing 4 of its first 6 games. In the following weeks, however, the club registered 4 straight wins, including an upset victory over the previously undefeated [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]] in Perth,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://finalsiren.com/AFLLadder.asp?AFLLadderTypeID=2&SeasonID=2015&Round=10-1|title=AFL Ladder 2015 Round 10 |website=finalsiren.com}}</ref> and went on to defeat top-four teams [[Sydney Swans|Sydney]] and reigning premiers [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]]. Richmond would go on to win the final four games of the home and away season to finish fifth on the ladder. Facing North Melbourne in an elimination final, Richmond lost by 17 points in front of a crowd of 90,186, making it the club's third consecutive first weeks finals loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2015/24/rich-v-nmfc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907090829/http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2015/24/rich-v-nmfc |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 September 2015 |title=Match results |publisher=AFL Media |year=2015 |access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref>

In 2016, Richmond failed to qualify for the finals for the first time in four years. Following a comprehensive Round 3 loss to Adelaide, coach Hardwick said the team would have to "take a little half-step back to go two steps forward."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-season-2016-hardwick-says-richmond-may-need-to-go-back-to-go-forward-20160409-go2lf8.html|title=AFL season 2016: Hardwick says Richmond may need to go back to go forward|newspaper=The Age|location=Melbourne|first=Rohan Connoly and|last=Larissa Nicholson|date=9 April 2016|access-date=15 August 2016}}</ref> It would go on to be the story of the season with several major defeats including one against Greater Western Sydney in which Richmond registered its lowest score since 1961.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-30/giants-smash-dismal-tigers-by-88-points-to-sound-afl-warning/7675110|title=GWS Giants pulverise Richmond by 88 points to sound AFL warning|publisher=ABC|date=30 July 2016|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> The club debuted six players and brought in two recruits for their first games in the yellow and black.

===Premiership success (2017–2020)===

During the preseason period for 2016/17, Richmond made a number of changes to its playing list and coaching staff. Among these changes was the departure of [[Brett Deledio]] to Greater Western Sydney, in a three-way deal involving Geelong that saw the Tigers receive a 2017 first-round draft selection from the Cats, as well as a 2017 third-round selection from the [[Greater Western Sydney Giants|Giants]]. Richmond also attained the services of [[Gold Coast Suns]] midfielder [[Dion Prestia]], Geelong player [[Josh Caddy]], and young [[Sydney Swans]] ruckman [[Toby Nankervis]] in preparation for the 2017 season.

{| style="margin-right:4px; margin-top:8px; float:right; border:1px #000 solid; border-radius:8px; background:#fff; font-family:Verdana; font-size:8pt; text-align:center;"
|-
| style="width:200px;"| ''[[2017 AFL Grand Final]]'' 
| ''G'' 
| ''B'' 
| ''Total''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |Richmond 
| '''16''' 
| '''12''' 
| '''108'''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |{{AFL Ade}} 
| 8 
| 12 
| 60
|-
| Venue: [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| colspan="3" | Crowd: 100,021
|}
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center
|width=29%
|align=right
|quote=37 years and the Tigers are kings of the jungle again – it is Tiger Time, [[Bruce McAvaney|Bruce]]. There is no doubt about it at all... The Tigers are going to win the Premiership (siren sounds) in 2017! The Tigers have got home for the first time in 37 years!
|source=[[Brian Taylor (Australian footballer)|Brian Taylor]]'s TV call of the Grand Final final siren on [[Seven Network]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59w8Fi_lFh4 Last 41 seconds – Richmond vs Adelaide Crows (AFL Grand Final 2017)] YouTube (originally broadcast by Seven Network)</ref>
}}

Richmond began 2017 with 5 straight wins, a feat it had not achieved since 1995. A series of close losses hampered the Tigers throughout the middle of the season, including a 5-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, 2-point loss to Fremantle, and a 3-point loss to the Giants. Richmond ended the season strongly with convincing victories over Fremantle and St Kilda in the final two rounds, elevating the club to 3rd on the ladder. Richmond's first final of the season – their qualifying final against the Cats at the MCG – attracted a record qualifying final crowd of 95,028; the Tigers won by 51 points. This sent them to their first preliminary final since 2001, in which Richmond defeated [[Greater Western Sydney Giants|Greater Western Sydney]] by 36 points in front of a crowd of 94,258 to progress to the [[2017 AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]] against [[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide]], their first Grand Final appearance since 1982. The attendance was 100,021, the largest crowd for a Grand Final since 1986. The Crows led at quarter time and were in front by as much as 13, but the Tigers took over the game as it progressed and kicked seven straight goals at one point with former South Australian U-19 captain [[Jack Graham (Australian footballer, born 1998)|Jack Graham]] finishing as the game's leading goalscorer after kicking three despite playing only his fifth game at AFL level. They eventually would win by 48 points – 16.12 (108) to Adelaide's 8.12 (60) – to end their 37-year flag drought.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/30/richmond-end-37-year-wait-with-afl-grand-final-win-over-adelaide|title=Richmond end 37-year wait with AFL grand final win over Adelaide|last=O'Halloran|first=Kate|date=30 September 2017|work=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=30 September 2017|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Dustin Martin]] also became the first player to win a Premiership medal, the [[Brownlow Medal]] and the [[Norm Smith Medal]] in the same season, while Damien Hardwick was named AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year. Richmond's jump from 13th to premiers also marked the biggest jump from one AFL season to the next.

[[File:RFC Win %.png|thumb|Richmond Football Club Win % by Season (including Finals)Gold * denotes Premiership

Red * denotes Wooden Spoon|365x365px]]

The reigning premiers were dominant throughout the [[2018 AFL season|2018 season]], winning their first minor premiership since 1982 with an 18–4 win–loss record. Richmond won all 17 of their games in Victoria during the home-and-away season,<ref name="Invicwethrive">{{cite web |last1=Greenberg |first1=Tony |title=In Victoria we thrive |url=http://m.richmondfc.com.au/news/2018-08-27/in-victoria-we-thrive |website=richmondfc.com.au |date=26 August 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> and broke the record for most consecutive wins at the MCG, winning 22 games at the venue<ref name="1qf">{{cite web |last1=Bowen |first1=Nick |title=Ruthless Tigers book prelim |url=http://m.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-06/match-report-richmond-v-hawthorn |publisher=AFL Media |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> (starting from round 14, 2017) and eclipsing the record of 17 set by Melbourne in [[1955 VFL season|1955]]–[[1956 VFL season|56]].<ref name="Sbs2018">{{cite web |title=Tigers beat Pies, break AFL's MCG record |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/tigers-beat-pies-break-afl-s-mcg-record |website=SBS.com.au |access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="TheAge2018Richmond">{{cite web |last1=Pierik |first1=Jon |title=Tigers claim MCG record with another final-quarter blitz against Pies |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-claim-mcg-record-with-another-final-quarter-blitz-against-pies-20180728-p4zu4z.html |website=The Age|location=Melbourne |date=28 July 2018 |access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref>

The Tigers defeated Hawthorn by 31 points in the first qualifying final at the MCG<ref name="1qf"/> and were seemingly destined to win a second consecutive flag. However, they were stunningly denied a repeat Grand Final appearance after Collingwood defeated them by 39 points in the first preliminary final.<ref name="PiesStunTigersAFLsite">{{cite web |last1=Bowen |first1=Nick |title=Match report: Pies stun Tigers to make GF |url=http://m.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-21/match-report-richmond-v-collingwood |publisher=AFL Media |date=21 September 2018 |access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="PiesPrelimAge">{{cite web |last1=Pierik |first1=Jon |title=Pies stun Tigers to march into grand final |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/pies-stun-tigers-to-march-into-grand-final-20180921-p50554.html |website=The Age|location=Melbourne |access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref>

Jack Riewoldt had an outstanding year for Richmond, winning his third [[Coleman Medal]] after kicking 65 goals during the regular season,<ref name="JackwinsJohn">{{cite web |last1=Phelan |first1=Jason |title=Riewoldt claims third Coleman Medal |url=http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2018-08-26/riewoldt-claims-third-coleman-medal |website=Richmondfc.com.au |date=26 August 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> his second [[Jack Dyer Medal]]<ref name="JackwinsJack">{{cite web |last1=Sewell |first1=Eliza |title=Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt adds second Jack Dyer Medal to bulging trophy cabinet |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/richmond-spearhead-jack-riewoldt-adds-second-jack-dyer-medal-to-bulging-trophy-cabinet/news-story/85ddbc51dc89a8b63adb21d9a2f3ef1e |website=Herald Sun |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="jack4jack">{{cite web |last1=Greenberg |first1=Tony |title=It's Jack for Jack |url=http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2018-10-02/2018-jack-dyer-medal-winner |website=Richmondfc.com.au |date=2 October 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> and receiving his third
[[All-Australian team|All-Australian]] selection.<ref name="Buddyleadstheway">{{cite web |last1=Laughton |first1=Max |title=AFL All-Australian team 2018: Lance Franklin joins all-time greats as captain in eighth appearance |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-allaustralian-team-2018-see-the-full-22man-side-as-its-announced-live/news-story/70325a4272a8a4e40a7bf0975b5e8cb6 |work=Fox Sports|location=Australia |date=29 August 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> Three other Tigers received All-Australian honours: [[Alex Rance]] (fullback), Dustin Martin (centre) and [[Shane Edwards]] (interchange),<ref name="Buddyleadstheway"/> and four more were shortlisted in the initial 40-man squad: captain [[Trent Cotchin]], [[Josh Caddy]], [[Dylan Grimes]] and [[Kane Lambert]].<ref name="8tigersinAAshortlist">{{cite web |title=Eight Tigers in All Australian squad |url=http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2018-08-27/2018-all-australian-squad-richmond |website=Richmondfc.com.au |date=27 August 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> Exciting young forward/midfielder [[Jack Higgins (Australian footballer)|Jack Higgins]] capped off a stellar debut season by winning [[Goal of the Year (AFL)|Goal of the Year]] for his highly memorable scissor-kick goal against Collingwood in Round 19.<ref name="Higgospeech">{{cite web |title=Brownlow Medal 2018: Jack Higgins delivers hilarious goal of the year speech |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/brownlow-medal-jack-higgins-delivers-hilarious-goal-of-the-year-speech-ng-b88970874z |website=The West Australian |date=24 September 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref>

At the conclusion of the season, Richmond acquired former {{AFL GC}} co-captain [[Tom Lynch (Australian footballer, born 1992)|Tom Lynch]] via free agency on 8 October.<ref name="LynchtoRichmond">{{cite news |title=Tom Lynch joins Richmond Tigers as Gold Coast Suns departure is confirmed |url=https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-08/tom-lynch-joins-richmond-tigers-as-he-leaves-gold-coast-suns/10351138 |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia |date=8 October 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="FoxsportsTigerslandLynch">{{cite web |title=Tom is a Tiger: Richmond officially lands big fish Tom Lynch on seven-year deal |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/tom-is-a-tiger-richmond-officially-lands-big-fish-tom-lynch-on-sevenyear-deal/news-story/9a7408a6a68acd4ad83727cc44927930 |work=Fox Sports|location=Australia |date=8 October 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> Five players departed the club during the free agency and trade periods: [[Reece Conca]] left to {{AFL Fre}} as a free agent on 5 October,<ref name="ConcatoFremantle">{{cite web |title=Conca becomes a Docker |date=5 October 2018 |url=http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2018-10-05/conca-becomes-a-docker |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> [[Anthony Miles (Australian footballer)|Anthony Miles]] and [[Corey Ellis]] were traded to Gold Coast along with a third round draft pick on 8 October in exchange for another third round pick,<ref name="miles&ellisdepart">{{cite web |title=Miles, Ellis join Suns |date=8 October 2018 |url=http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2018-10-08/miles-ellis-join-suns |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> [[Tyson Stengle]] was traded to Adelaide in exchange for its fourth round pick on 15 October,<ref name="StengletoAdelaide">{{cite web |last1=@AFL_House |title=Trade paperwork officially lodged. Richmond has traded Tyson Stengle to the Adelaide Crows for its Rd 4 selection, currently selection number 68 (on traded from the Gold Coast Suns) |url=https://twitter.com/AFL_House/status/1052017276323475456 |via=Twitter |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024}} and [[Sam Lloyd (footballer)|Sam Lloyd]] was sent to the {{AFL WB}} for pick 64 on 15 October.<ref name="LloydtoWhittenOval">{{cite web |last1=Cleary |first1=Mitch |title=Tiger forward makes move to the Kennel |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-10-15/tiger-forward-lloyd-makes-move-to-the-kennel |publisher=AFL Media |date=15 October 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> In addition, [[Ben Griffiths]] retired in January to pursue a college football career in the United States<ref name="Griffithsretires">{{cite web |last1=Salemme |first1=Kate |title=Richmond forward Ben Griffiths has quit the AFL to pursue an American football punting career |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-forward-ben-griffiths-has-quit-the-afl-to-pursue-an-american-football-punting-career/news-story/d4b58c80817609d1ba78deca2cceb85c |website=Herald Sun |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> and [[Shaun Hampson]] retired on 26 June, citing a chronic back condition.<ref name="Hampsonretires">{{cite web |title=Hampson calls time on afl career |date=26 June 2018 |url=http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2018-06-26/hampson-calls-time-on-afl-career |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref>

Richmond were looking to rebound in 2019 after the bitter disappointment of their unexpected preliminary final exit. They suffered various setbacks during the first half of the season, with several of their best players sidelined, most notably [[Alex Rance]] who suffered a career-ending ACL injury in Round 1 against Carlton. The Tigers were resilient in spite of their misfortune, winning six games in a seven-game stretch from round four to round 10. Despite a midseason slump where three losses on the trot dislodged them from the top eight, the Tigers re-emerged from the mid-year bye a different team and would not lose again for the rest of the season. They won their last nine games of the home-and-away season and finished third on the ladder with a 16–6 win–loss record, trailing minor premiers Geelong and second-placed Brisbane on percentage.

{| style="margin-right:4px; margin-top:8px; float:right; border:1px #000 solid; border-radius:8px; background:#fff; font-family:Verdana; font-size:8pt; text-align:center;"
|-
| style="width:200px;"| ''[[2019 AFL Grand Final]]'' 
| ''G'' 
| ''B'' 
| ''Total''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |Richmond 
| '''17''' 
| '''12''' 
| '''114'''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |{{AFL GWS}} 
| 3
| 7
| 25
|-
| Venue: [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| colspan="3" | Crowd: 100,014
|}
They would defeat both teams en route to their second grand final in three years, dispatching the Lions by 47 points in the second qualifying final at the Gabba (marking their first interstate finals victory) before coming from 21 points down at half time to beat the Cats by 19 points in the second preliminary final at the MCG. They met Greater Western Sydney in the [[2019 AFL Grand Final]] on 28 September, thrashing the Giants by 89 points – their biggest ever win in a grand final, eclipsing their 81-point victory over Collingwood in 1980. Martin won his second Norm Smith Medal, becoming just the fourth to win multiple Norm Smith Medals after [[Gary Ayres]], [[Andrew McLeod]] and [[Luke Hodge]]. Cotchin equaled Dan Minogue, Percy Bentley and Royce Hart with his second Premiership as Richmond captain while Hardwick became the Tigers' first multiple Premiership coach since Tom Hafey – whose widow Maureen presented the two of them with the Premiership cup. Richmond also chose to debut [[Marlion Pickett]], who they had drafted midseason following Grigg's retirement and who had won the Norm Goss Medal in the VFL Grand Final against Williamstown the previous week. Pickett not only became the first player to make his senior debut in an AFL or VFL Grand Final since [[Keith Batchelor]] for Collingwood in 1952, but he also kicked his first AFL goal in the third quarter and finished with four Norm Smith Medal votes.

{| style="margin-right:4px; margin-top:8px; float:right; border:1px #000 solid; border-radius:8px; background:#fff; font-family:Verdana; font-size:8pt; text-align:center;"
|-
| style="width:200px;"| ''[[2020 AFL Grand Final]]'' 
| ''G'' 
| ''B'' 
| ''Total''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |Richmond 
| '''12''' 
| '''9''' 
| '''81'''
|-
| style="text-align:left" |{{AFL Gee}} 
| 7
| 8
| 50
|-
| Venue: [[The Gabba]]
| colspan="3" | Crowd: 29,707
|}
Despite some off-field indiscretions during the [[2020 AFL season|2020 season]] and playing most of the season interstate due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the reigning premiers finished in the top four for the fourth consecutive season, qualifying in third place with 12 wins, four losses and a draw after a shortened 17-match home-and-away season. Richmond faltered against the Brisbane Lions in the qualifying final, but recovered to play in their third Grand Final in four years after defeating St Kilda by 31 points in the semi-final and pipping minor premiers Port Adelaide by six points in the preliminary final. The Tigers would meet Geelong at the Gabba in the first VFL/AFL Grand Final to be played outside Victoria, and despite trailing the Cats by 22 points deep in the second term, Richmond scored 10 of the final 12 goals of the match to run out 31-point winners. It marked their third premiership in four years and also made them the first team since Hawthorn completed their three-peat in 2015 to win consecutive premierships. Martin, who kicked four goals, became the first-ever three-time Norm Smith Medalist, while Cotchin became the club's first-ever three-time Premiership captain.

=== End of a dynasty (2021–present) ===

The Tigers' four-year era of success would come to a halt in 2021. Despite a decent start to the year, winning seven of their first 12 matches, the reigning premiers would fall away rapidly to win just two of their last 10. With a season record of nine wins, 12 losses and a draw, Richmond finished 12th and missed the finals for the first time since 2016. The Tigers became the fourth team in five years to miss the finals after playing in the previous year's grand final, following 2016 premiers the Western Bulldogs, 2017 runners-up Adelaide and 2019 runners-up Greater Western Sydney.

At the conclusion of the season, triple-premiership captain Trent Cotchin relinquished his role as skipper,<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 September 2021 |title=Richmond's three-time AFL premiership captain Trent Cotchin steps down as skipper |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-14/afl-richmond-trent-cotchin-steps-down-as-tigers-captain/100462214 |access-date=7 April 2022}}</ref> and Dylan Grimes and Toby Nankervis were appointed as co-captains for the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 February 2022 |title=Tigers announce historic co-captains |work=richmondfc.com.au |url=https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1059945/tigers-announce-historic-co-captains |access-date=7 April 2022}}</ref>

Richmond were looking to rebound quickly from their poor 2021 season. Despite some inconsistent form throughout the 2022 season, which included dispiriting losses to also-rans Gold Coast and North Melbourne, and a low-scoring draw against Fremantle, the Tigers were able to secure an eighth finals berth in 10 seasons, finishing seventh on the ladder with 13 wins, eight losses and one draw. However, their finals campaign came to an early end after a heart-breaking two-point loss to Brisbane in a high scoring elimination final. Three time premiership player and 300 gamer Shane Edwards announced his retirement at the conclusion of the season.

The 2023 season truly was the end of the Dynasty Era at Tigerland. Three time premiership coach Damien Hardwick announced he would be resigning from his position after a 1-point defeat to Essendon in Round 10. This shocked the football world as Hardwick sited 'burnout' as his reasoning for departing the club prior to his contract ending. Later in the year he would sign a 6-year deal as coach of the Gold Coast Suns, confusing many of the Richmond faithful.

[[Andrew McQualter]] took the reins as interim coach for the remainder of the season with mixed success. The club would eventually finish 13th and miss the finals with 10 wins, 12 losses and a draw. Late in the season, club legends Trent Cotchin & Jack Riewoldt announced they would be retiring after the clubs Round 23 fixture against North Melbourne at the MCG. Over 60,000 supporters turned out to farewell the retiring champions as the Tigers won the match by 29 points.

The season finished with Richmond suffering a loss at Adelaide Oval against Port Adelaide, with many of the clubs young players being showcased – showing promising signs for the seasons ahead. The club announced on 21 September that [[Adem Yze]] would be taking over as the clubs new Senior Coach, beating Andrew McQualter to win the position.

Richmond finished last on the AFL ladder in 2024, claiming its eighth [[List of VFL/AFL wooden spoons|wooden spoon]] only four years after winning its most recent premiership. Premiership players [[Dylan Grimes]], [[Dustin Martin]] and [[Marlion Pickett]] all retired following the conclusion of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1203151/gold-coast-suns-spoil-tiger-farewells-confirm-richmonds-wooden-spoon|title=Suns spoil Tiger farewells, confirm Richmond's wooden spoon|publisher=AFL.com.au|first=Gemma|last=Bastiani|date=24 August 2024|accessdate=25 August 2024}}</ref>